Injuries In Missouri

In 1999, 3550 Missourians died as a result of injuries, including unintentional and intentional injuries. Unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death, suicide the tenth leading cause, and homicide the fifteenth leading cause of death among Missourians. In Missouri, more children and young adults, ages 1 to 35, die from unintentional injuries than from any other cause of death. Homicide is the second leading cause of death for children and young adults, ages 5-25. During the twentieth century (1900’s), trauma replaced infectious diseases as the most important threat to Missouri’s children.

Although the number of deaths caused by injuries is staggering, the number of non-fatal injuries totaled almost 600,000 in 1999. Many Missourians who survive injuries experience long-term or permanent disabilities resulting in time lost from work and family, as well as costly medical and rehabilitation expenses, pain, and suffering.

• Motor vehicle traffic is the number one cause of deaths among ages 1-34.
• Falls are the leading cause of unintentional deaths among the 65+ age group. It is the second and third leading cause of unintentional deaths among the 55-64 and 45-54 age groups respectively.
• Firearms play a significant role in homicides ages 10-44 and in suicides ages 10-64.
• Homicides appear as one of the ten leading causes of death as early as the <1 age group where it weighs in at number ten. It continues to rise as a leading cause through the 5-9 age group to the 15-24 age group where it is listed as the second leading cause of death.
• Homicides remain as one of the ten leading causes of death through age 44.
• Unintentional injuries alone account for over 30,000 hospitalizations and 530,000 emergency room visits annually.
• Motor vehicle injuries are responsible for nearly 6,000 hospitalizations and 66,100 emergency room visits each year for all age groups.
• Falls cause over 16,000 hospitalizations and nearly 139,000 emergency room visits.
• Firearm related injuries account for over 650 hospitalizations and nearly 1,300 emergency room visits annually for all groups.

Click below for Injuries In Missouri: A Call To Action divided by subject into individual .pdf documents.

Cover
Publication Citation
Acknowledgements
Message From the Governor
An Overview
A Public Health Approach
Data for Injury Prevention
Focus on Profiles
State Profile
County Profiles