Falls lead to most injury-related deaths in Wisconsin

The number one cause of injury-related death in Wisconsin from 2007 to 2009 is falls. When it comes to preventable accidents, falls kill more people in Wisconsin than motor vehicle crashes, poisoning or homicide. This data comes from a report by the Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Dr. Stephen Hargarten is the center's director.

"Our challenges with addressing falls in older adults is a significant one,” he said. “That population is rising and we have one of the highest rates of mortality of falls in our older adults than most other states.”

Hargarten says Wisconsin has made progress limiting other injuries: like reducing the severity of car crashes through better medical care and public policies like primary enforcement of the seat belt law and booster seats for children.

He says similar coordination across the state could reduce injuries in other areas: like falls, poisonings and suicides.

The report says the ER costs and hospitalizations resulting from preventable injuries amounts to $2 billion each year.

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