NSC: Preventable deaths climb during summer months

Noting that the highest number of deaths from preventable injuries occur during July and August, the National Safety Council is calling on Americans to “pause and take stock” of their safety as summer approaches.

To mark National Safety Month, which is observed in June, NSC released data showing that motor vehicle crashes, falls, poisonings, drownings, fires and choking claimed 117,041 lives in July and August from 2011 to 2015.

“History tells us that the odds may not be in our favor during the summer months,” NSC President and CEO Deborah A.P. Hersman said in a press release.

NSC offers several tips for reducing the risk of injuries:

• Safely store medications in a locked drawer or container, and keep children away from prescription drugs.
• Never use a cellphone – even hands-free – while driving.
• Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver or arrange alternate transportation.
• Take steps to fall-proof your home, including installing staircase handrails, securing rugs and using nonslip mats in bathtubs.
• Establish a family fire escape plan and practice it.

Preventable deaths were at an all-time high in 2015, reaching a total of 146,571 – a 7 percent increase from 2014.