FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2008

CONTACT:  Vicki L. Duey, Executive Director, 

            Four Corners Health Department, 2101 N Lincoln Ave, York, NE   68467

            Phone:  402-362-2621 or 1-877-337-3573

            Email:  questions@fourcorners.ne.gov

Injury Report Issued by Health Department

A common misconception is that unintentional injuries happen as a result of “accidents,” when in fact, most injuries are predictable and preventable.

“Injuries are a major public health problem in Nebraska resulting in significant numbers of deaths, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits,” said Vicki Duey, Executive Director of Four Corners Health Department. “From 1999 to 2003, injuries overall, including unintentional and intentional injuries, were the fourth leading cause of death in Polk, Butler, York and Seward Counties. In this time period there were 122 injury deaths, more that 1,200 residents were hospitalized and more than 19,700 residents were treated at hospitals for injuries” in these four counties served by Four Corners Health Department.

A recent report by the Nebraska Health and Human Services System (HHSS) combines hospital discharge, death certificate, and trauma registry data from 1999 to 2003. For the Four Corners Health Department (FCHD) area, the report describes the leading causes of injury death and the leading causes of injury hospital discharges, including inpatient and outpatient. Highlights include:

• Deaths due to injury made up 5% of total deaths
• More than half of the deaths due to injuries were among 15-29 year olds.
• An average of 23 residents died from injuries each year
• Only cancer exceeded injury in the years of potential life lost.
• Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of injury deaths.
• The most motor vehicle crash deaths were among persons age 25-34 years.
• Suicide was the second leading cause of injury death
• Persons in the 55-64 year age group had more deaths from suicide than other age                             groups.
• Males were nearly six times more likely to die from suicide than females.
• Falls were the third leading cause of injury death.
• The leading cause of hospital discharges related to injury was falls,  followed by      being struck by or against an object (2nd), cutting or piercing (3rd), overexertion            (4th) and motor vehicle crashes (5th).
• The FCHD area had a higher unintentional injury hospital discharge rate but           lower suicide attempt rate and homicide rate than Nebraska rates.

“We need to be aware of how and why these injuries occur so that we can prevent them in the future,” said Duey.

For additional information, call Four Corners Health Department at (402) 362-2621 or 1-877-337-3573 or go to http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/codes/InjuryReportFeb2008/  to view the entire report.