Unintentional injuries or accidents are among the leading causes of
death in this country and are more frequent in people from 1 to 44 years of age. The economic toll of accidents is great and amounts to more than $600 billion a year in cost of care as well as productive years lost. Poisonings, motor vehicle-related accidents and falls account for over 78 percent of all accidental deaths
in Massachusetts.
But many accidents are preventable. Use of age-appropriate auto restraints, installation of smoke detectors, and balance training for the elderly are all examples of steps one can take to reduce fatal and nonfatal injuries.
