Injuries are a leading cause of disability for people of all ages- and they are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44. The good news
is everyone can get involved to help prevent injuries. Make a difference: Spread the word about ways to reduce the risk of injuries.
- Prescription painkiller abuse; prescription painkiller overdose area growing problem in the United States, especially among women. About 18 women die every day from a prescription painkiller overdose more than 4 times as many as back in 1999.
- Transportation safety: Doing other activities while driving – like texting or eating distracts you and increases your chance of crashing. Almost 1 in 5 crashes (17%) that injured someone involve distracted driving.
- Slips, trips and falls; One in 3 older adults falls each year. Many falls lead to broken bones and other health problems.
- For more information, visit www.health.gov.
by Erika Sweet, NP
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