Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council is cautiously optimistic with new CDC data showing the number of deaths from unintentional, preventable injuries – commonly known as “accidents” – decreased 1.7% in 2018 compared to 2017, when numbers reached an all-time high. Additionally, NSC is pleased to see that life expectancy increased for the first time in three years, in part because of drops in preventable deaths. Despite these encouraging statistics, preventable injuries still remain the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, with 167,127 reported in 2018.
Any decline in deaths is promising, but the only acceptable number is zero. Too many people are losing their lives due to causes that are completely unnecessary and unnatural. The new CDC data indicates the nation’s collective complacency costs more than 457 lives on a typical day because of drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, choking incidents or other preventable occurrences.
NSC analysis of the unintentional, preventable injury data shows:
Cause of Death | 2017 | 2018 | Difference | Percent Change |
Poisoning (including drug overdose) | 64,795 | 62,399 | -2,396 | -3.7% |
Motor-vehicle | 40,231 | 39,404 | -827 | -2.1% |
Falls | 36,338 | 37,455 | 1,117 | 3.1% |
Suffocation by ingestion, inhalation | 5,216 | 5,084 | -132 | -2.5% |
Drowning | 3,709 | 3,710 | 1 | 0.0% |
Fires, flames, smoke | 2,812 | 2,972 | 160 | 5.7% |
Mechanical suffocation | 1,730 | 1,617 | -113 | -6.5% |
Natural heat, cold | 1,269 | 1,543 | 274 | 21.6% |
Struck by, against | 806 | 816 | 10 | 1.2% |
Machinery | 572 | 525 | -47 | -8.2% |
Firearms | 486 | 458 | -28 | -5.8% |
Water transportation | 466 | 444 | -22 | -4.7% |
Rail transportation | 439 | 451 | 12 | 2.7% |
Air transportation | 385 | 372 | -13 | -3.4% |
Electric current | 254 | 320 | 66 | 26.0% |
Transport residual | 1,503 | 1,361 | -142 | -9.4% |
Nontransport residual | 8,925 | 8,196 | -729 | -8.2% |
Total | 169,936 | 167,127 | -2,809 | -1.7% |
Unintentional injuries are not an unavoidable reality. Consistently prioritizing safety at work, on the road and at home can go a long way toward protecting those we love. If we all make safety a personal commitment, we can continue to lower the number of preventable deaths and live our fullest lives.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.
