According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), nearly 150,000 people die from injuries every year, and almost 30 million people are injured seriously enough to go to the emergency room. During National Public Health Week, APHA strives to “help Americans live injury-free in all areas of life: at work, at home, at play in your community and anywhere people are on the move.”
The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) stresses that violence and maltreatment affect people of all ages, even in the workplace. Although the greatest cost of injury may be the compromised health of a loved one, the financial costs also are staggering – according to AIHA, injuries account for 12 percent of annual medical care spending, totaling as much as $69 billion per year.
APHA is taking safety on the road with an Injury Prevention Road Tour that will include cities such as Washington, D.C., Coralville, Iowa, Concord, N.H., Montpelier, Vt., and Chicago. Visit the road tour Web site to learn more.
For more information and safety tips, download a National Public Health Week brochure or visit http://www.nphw.org.