The first three decades of life in the U.S. can apparently be quite dangerous as a new study finds that almost 80% of those 30 and under are dying from injuries.
Researchers on a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study claim that, after analyzing data on people that died in 2010 between the ages of 1 and 30, 79 percent of those deaths were from injuries. While 60 percent of those injuries were unintentional, almost 20 percent were from suicide.
The study also noted that the remaining 20 percent were from chronic diseases.
Breaking the numbers down a bit further, the report adds that of the deaths among young people that were due to injuries, 60 percent were as a result of unintentional injuries, while 20 percent were due to suicide, and 20 percent were due to homicide.
"Injuries kill more than 180,000 people each year-that's 1 death every 3 minutes. Regardless of sex, race, or economic status, violence and injuries affect everyone. In the first half of life, more Americans die from violence and injuries-such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, or homicides-than from any other cause, including cancer, HIV, or the flu," the report states. "And injury deaths are only part of the picture. Millions of Americans are injured each year and survive. Many of them are faced with life-long health, social and financial problems."
The study stresses that injuries and violence are not accidents and are not inevitable. The organization is hoping to heighten awareness of this and their report provides examples people can follow to lessen their risk.
"Injuries and violence are not accidents and are not inevitable," explained Tamara Haegerich, a researcher on the study at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, a branch of the CDC.
The CDC suggests safety tips such as having a child sit in a safety seat while riding and site how this simply act can decrease fatal injuries from car crashes by 35 percent. The CDC is also making a push to strengthen laws against drinking and driving.
Researchers are hoping that spreading the word about a study such as this is a good first step and that much more needs to be done to cut down the number of deaths due to these often times preventable accidents.
"Clinical medicine and public health partnerships can help to ensure that life is not stopped by a preventable injury and that thousands are spared the debilitating effects of a car crash, non-fatal drowning, severe burn, fall or assault," the report adds.
