Age Without Injury—Still Going Strong Campaign

"Injuries from falls and car crashes are more common as we age. You can take simple steps to prevent these injuries from happening, so you can stay healthy and independent longer.

Older adults – those age 65 and older—are at an increased risk of health problems and injuries from falls and car crashes. CDC developed the Still Going Strong campaign to help older adults and their caregivers learn about risk factors for falls and crashes—and ways to prevent them.

Injuries Are Common as We Age

Over 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. Each year, older adults experience 36 million falls and 1.6 million car crashes. An injury from a fall or car crash can decrease their independence. But, getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite hobbies and activities.

It’s important for older adults and their caregivers to understand common injuries that can happen as we age and what we can do to prevent these injuries.

Older Adults Can Take Simple Steps to Prevent Injuries

• Tell your doctor if you have fallen, if you feel unsteady when standing or walking, or if you’re afraid you might fall. Talk to your doctor about fall prevention and safe driving strategies.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medicines you take—both prescription and over the counter. Some medicines might make you dizzy or sleepy or may reduce your reaction time.
• Have an eye doctor check your eyes at least once a year and update your eyeglasses as needed.
• Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear to reduce your risk of falling.
• Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance, like Tai Chi.
• Make your home safer by removing throw rugs, using extra lighting or brighter light bulbs, installing grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Only drive during daylight and in good weather, and always wear a seat belt—as a driver or passenger.
• Never drink and drive—alcohol reduces coordination, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of being in a crash.
• Plan your drive to find the safest route and leave a large following distance between your car and the car in front of you.
• Avoid distractions in your car, such as listening to a loud radio and talking or texting on your phone.
• Consider riding with a friend or family member, taking a ride share service, or using public transportation.
• If you have fallen or are in a car crash, have your doctor check you for signs and symptoms of a brain injury..."
  Age and injury 

Age Without Injury: Still Going Strong Campaign

"Injuries from falls and car crashes are more common as we age. You can take simple steps to prevent these injuries from happening, so you can stay healthy and independent longer.

Older adults – those age 65 and older—are at an increased risk of health problems and injuries from falls and car crashes. CDC developed the Still Going Strong campaign to help older adults and their caregivers learn about risk factors for falls and crashes—and ways to prevent them.

Injuries Are Common as We Age

Over 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. Each year, older adults experience 36 million falls and 1.6 million car crashes. An injury from a fall or car crash can decrease their independence. But, getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite hobbies and activities.

It’s important for older adults and their caregivers to understand common injuries that can happen as we age and what we can do to prevent these injuries.

Older Adults Can Take Simple Steps to Prevent Injuries

• Tell your doctor if you have fallen, if you feel unsteady when standing or walking, or if you’re afraid you might fall. Talk to your doctor about fall prevention and safe driving strategies.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medicines you take—both prescription and over the counter. Some medicines might make you dizzy or sleepy or may reduce your reaction time.
• Have an eye doctor check your eyes at least once a year and update your eyeglasses as needed.
• Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear to reduce your risk of falling.
• Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance, like Tai Chi.
• Make your home safer by removing throw rugs, using extra lighting or brighter light bulbs, installing grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Only drive during daylight and in good weather, and always wear a seat belt—as a driver or passenger.
• Never drink and drive—alcohol reduces coordination, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of being in a crash.
• Plan your drive to find the safest route and leave a large following distance between your car and the car in front of you.
• Avoid distractions in your car, such as listening to a loud radio and talking or texting on your phone.
• Consider riding with a friend or family member, taking a ride share service, or using public transportation.
• If you have fallen or are in a car crash, have your doctor check you for signs and symptoms of a brain injury.

Caregivers Can Help Loved Ones Age Without Injury

• Talk openly with your loved ones and their doctors about fall prevention and driving safety.
  
• Check with their healthcare provider to see if it’s safe for participate in strength and balance exercises, such as Tai Chi.
• Have your loved one’s eye checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and replace eyeglasses as needed.
• Have a healthcare provider check their feet once a year and discuss proper footwear.
• Help make their home safer by removing trip hazards, like throw rugs, and keep floors clutter free. Brighten their home with extra lighting or brighter bulbs. Install grab bars in the bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Encourage your loved one to always wear their seat belt as a driver and as a passenger.
• Encourage them to only drive when conditions are safest and to use alternative transportation options or offer to drive them yourself.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of mild TBI and concussion and moderate to severe TBI. Brain injuries are often missed or misdiagnosed in older adults..."
  Age without injury 

Fatal Injury Reports, National and Regional, 1999 - 2013

Find the latest injury data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by intent or manner of the injury; cause or mechanisn of the injury; and by geography, race and sex of the injured.    
Injury statistics

Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities

Find the latest data on occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Injuries and Fatalities Data: 2011

WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES – 2010

"Nearly 3.1 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported among private industry employers in 2010, resulting in an incidence rate of 3.5 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—down from 3.6 cases in 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See tables 1 and 2.) The total recordable cases (TRC) injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2002, when estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) were first published using the current OSHA requirements for recording occupational injuries and illnesses..."

Vital Signs: Nonfatal, Motor Vehicle--Occupant Injuries (2009) and Seat Belt Use (2008) Among Adults --- United States
"Background: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States among persons aged 5--34 years. Seat belts have been shown to be the most effective method for reducing injuries among adults in the event of a crash.

Methods: CDC used 2009 data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System--All Injury Program (NEISS-AIP) to provide U.S. estimates of the number and rate of nonfatal, motor vehicle--occupant injuries treated in emergency departments among adults aged ≥18 years. In addition, CDC used 2008 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to estimate the prevalence of self-reported seat belt use among adults in the United States. Seat belt use was examined further by type of state seat belt enforcement law.

Results: In 2009 in the United States, an estimated 2.3 million adult motor vehicle--occupants had nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments. The nonfatal, motor vehicle--occupant injury rate declined 15.6% from 1,193.8 per 100,000 population in 2001 to 1,007.5 per 100,000 population in 2009. In 2008, self-reported seat belt use was higher in states with primary enforcement laws (88.2%), compared with states with secondary enforcement laws (79.2%). If the secondary law states had achieved 88.2% seat belt use in 2008, an additional 7.3 million adults would have been belted. From 2002 to 2008, self-reported seat belt use increased overall from 80.5% to 85.0%.

Conclusions: Nonfatal, motor vehicle--occupant injuries treated in emergency departments have declined in recent years but still affect a substantial proportion of the adult U.S. population each year. Self-reported belt use increased from 2002 to 2008, and was higher in states with primary enforcement laws compared with states with secondary enforcement laws..."

Fatal Occupational Injuries to Volunteer Workers, 2003–07
"From 2003 to 2007, a total of 287 volunteer workers were killed on the job, or 1 percent of all fatal occupational injuries reported over that 5-year span.2 The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) considers volunteer workers to be in scope if they are exposed to similar work hazards and perform similar job duties to those of paid workers and meet the CFOI work-relationship criteria.3 A volunteer fire fighter who dies of smoke inhalation while fighting a fire or a volunteer carpenter who dies in a fall from the roof of his church while making repairs are two illustrative examples of the types of incidents that can befall volunteer workers and that would be counted in the CFOI..."

Workplace Injuries and Illness-- 2008
"Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2008 occurred at a rate of 3.9 percent per 100 equivalent full-time workers - a decline from 4.2 cases in 2007, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2008 declined to 3.7 million cases, compared to 4 million cases in 2007. The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incident rate among private industry employers has declined significantly each year since 2003, when estimates from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) were first published using the 2002 North American Industry Classification system (NAICS)"

New CDC Report Finds Motor Vehicles and Falls are Causes of Most Child and Teen Injuries and Deaths in the United States
"An estimated 55 million children and teens from birth to age 19 were treated in emergency departments for unintentional injuries from 2001 to 2006, according to a new report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The report also notes that between 2000 and 2005, unintentional injuries resulted in 73,052 deaths among children and teens. Falls caused most non-fatal injuries (about 2.8 million each year), while most deaths were transportation-related (about 8,000 deaths each year involved a motor vehicle occupant, pedestrian or pedal cyclist).

According to the report, every year, an estimated 9.2 million children visited emergency departments for unintentional injuries. Falls were associated with over half of the nonfatal injuries involving children less than one year, while transportation-related injuries and deaths were highest among children 15 to 19 years of age. Overall, males were almost twice as likely to die as a result of unintentional injuries than females."

Fatal Workplace Injuries in 2005
"The Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), administered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in conjunction with the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and New York City, compiles detailed information on all work-related fatal injuries occurring in the United States...

The annual CFOI report provides detailed tabulations of data from the fatality census, as well as analytical articles on various topics related to fatal workplace injuries. The report has two sections; the first section contains charts and text highlighting fatality data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, including charts derived from the three analytical articles that use CFOI data. The second section presents detailed data tables and appendices that describe the scope, methodology, and outputs of the program, along with the full text of the three analytical articles."