‘Injury Facts’ goes digital

Itasca, IL — Recognizing a public need for easy access to data, the National Safety Council has digitized its annual Injury Facts chartbook – now in its 98th year – to create a new, easily updatable online platform that gives an early look at emerging issues, puts data in historical context and helps Americans understand what their safety priorities should be.

Preventable injuries – commonly referred to as “accidents” – are the third leading cause of death, claiming an unprecedented 161,374 lives in 2016. The upward trend has been fueled by drug overdoses – largely from opioids – and increases in falls and motor vehicle-related deaths.

“Good data help us make better decisions and increase our odds of living a long and healthy life,” Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of NSC, said in a press release. “We hope people will embrace having a wealth of information at their fingertips and use it to protect themselves and their families from the risks that can cause the most harm.”