| ABOUT THE INDICATOR Unintentional injury deaths, the majority of which are motor vehicle related
or falls, and suicides are two leading causes of death that are preventable.
Tracking the distribution of unintentional injury deaths and suicides by age and
gender allows communities to better understand the nature of these deaths so
that interventional measures to try to prevent them can target the most
vulnerable populations.
In addition to motor vehicle accidents and falls, other causes of
unintentional injury deaths include drowning, poisoning, bicycling and other
accidents, and fires.
OBSERVATIONS
In 2000, there were 161 unintentional injury deaths in DuPage County.
Overall, males are much more likely than females to die as a result of
unintentional injuries, particularly in the three age groups comprising the 15
to 44 year old range. In fact, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of
death for these age groups, and most of these injuries result from motor vehicle
accidents.
Among the elderly, falls are a major cause of accidental death.
There were 50 suicide deaths in DuPage County in 2000. Most suicides were
committed by males between the ages of 25 and 44.
Like accidental deaths, suicides disproportionately affect younger people and
are among the leading causes of death for individuals in the 15 to 44 year old
age group. As a result, although suicides and unintentional injury deaths
account for only a small share of all deaths, they represent a larger share of
“years of potential life lost” (YPLL). For instance, in 2000, suicides
represented less than one percent of all deaths in DuPage County, but accounted
for nearly 5 percent of YPLL. The same year, unintentional injuries caused about
3 percent of all DuPage County deaths, but accounted for 14 percent of YPLL.
TAPESTRY
The majority of unintentional injury deaths could be prevented if appropriate
caution was taken and preventive measures were implemented. In DuPage County we
are seeing an increase in the population and the number of registered vehicles.
Increased traffic volume can directly affect the number of unintentional deaths
caused by motor vehicle accidents. As a county, it is our responsibility to
educate our drivers on the hazards of volume congestion, and how we can prevent
or limit the damage resulting from such accidents. Heightened measures to
educate pedestrians and bikers about safety and stringent enforcement of seat
belt and DUI laws could also help reduce accident-related injuries and deaths.
Suicide is a significant public health concern as well, as so many young
lives are lost to this preventable cause. Suicide is a complex mental and social
issue challenging behavioral health professionals and the relationships of
individuals and families in our neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.
Increased awareness of the problem, support for depressed individuals, and
intervention may help prevent at least some suicides.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED OR LEARN MORE
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