NEW RESEARCH SHOWS IMPACT OF HOME INJURIES STATE-BY-STATE

Home Safety Council Study Ranks Each State According to
Fatality Rates from Unintentional Home Injuries

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 17, 2004) — According to The State of Home Safety in America™ report (2004), a new study released by the Home Safety Council, unintentional injuries cause nearly 21 million medical visits and 20,000 deaths on average each year, and can cost society up to $387 billion annually. As the only study that examines trends in home injuries nationally and by state, the research reveals that all areas of the country are severely impacted by common injuries at home.

The State of Home Safety in America (2004) ranks the 50 states and the District of Columbia according to the five leading causes of death due to unintentional home injury. Nationwide, the leading causes of unintentional home injury-related death are falls, poisonings, fires/burns, suffocation and drowning. While home injuries are a risk for every American home, death rates (per 100,000 people) due to injuries at home vary by state:

States with the Highest Annual Average Fatality Rate from Unintentional Home Injuries

1. New Mexico
2. Mississippi
3. Arizona
4. Pennsylvania
5. West Virginia

States with the Lowest Annual Average Fatality Rate from Unintentional Home Injuries

1. Massachusetts
2. Utah
3. Maryland
4. New Hampshire
5. Hawaii

The study found that there are regional variations of death rates among states. For example, Southeastern states have high rates of death from residential fires, which may be due to types of home heating and home construction. Additionally, rates of drowning deaths are highest in Florida, Arizona, Nevada and California where climates are warmer and swimming pools may be more common. Other possible reasons for state-to-state differences include climate, cultural and socio-economic differences, health care access, as well as record keeping practices.

“Our research shows a clear need for every household across the nation to take steps that will increase the safety of their home,” said Home Safety Council president Meri-K Appy. “Unintentional home injuries are not confined to any particular geographical location, so we all need to take actions to protect our loved ones, such as locking up poisons and developing and practicing a home fire escape plan. These measures can help reduce the risk of a serious injury or even a fatality.”

Home Safety Advice for all Families

During Home Safety Month, the Home Safety Council is introducing new resources that will help families reduce their injury risk and apply safe practices in and around their homes. Visitors to www.homesafetycouncil.org can download posters and brochures, create a personalized home safety checklist and access free home safety information on topics ranging from fire prevention to child safety. Additionally, the Home Safety Council offers the following 10 steps to a safer home that every household should put into action:

• Keep all stairways, paths and walkways clear of clutter and well lit.
• Install grab bars in bath and shower stalls, and use a non-slip mat or adhesive safety strips inside bathtubs and showers.
• Post emergency numbers and the National Poison Control Hotline number (1-800-222-1222) next to every phone in your home.
• Install child locks on all cabinets used to store dangerous items such as cleaners, matches, lighters and household chemicals.
• Keep your water heater setting at 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them monthly.
• Develop a fire escape plan for your family that has two exits out of every room and a place to meet outside. Practice makes perfect – hold a family fire drill at least twice each year.
• Always stay in the kitchen while food is cooking on the stove.
• If you have a pool, install four-sided pool fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates. Fencing should completely isolate the pool from the home and be least five feet high.
• Practice touch supervision - stay within arm’s length and constantly supervise children in or near water such as pools, ponds, bathtubs and buckets.

For more information about your state’s ranking and to access resources to help you learn more and stay safe in and around your home, including creating a personalized checklist for your family, please visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

The State of Home Safety in America™ Report

The State of Home Safety in America™ (2004) is the Home Safety Council’s second comprehensive statistical report of unintentional home injuries in the United States, addressing causes, costs and victims. The Home Safety Council worked in conjunction with the University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center to create a comprehensive benchmark of home injuries in 2002 and to update the status of home safety in the minds and homes of Americans in the 2004 Edition. The report found falls to be the most common fatal home injury, followed by poisonings, fires/burns, choking and suffocation and drowning. Resulting in nearly 20,000 fatalities annually on average, these injuries can cost society up to $387 billion each year.

About Home Safety Council

The Home Safety Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping prevent the nearly 21 million medical visits that occur on average each year from unintentional injuries in the home. Through national programs and partners across America, the Home Safety Council works to educate and empower families to take actions that help keep them safe in and around their homes. To learn more about the Council’s programs, partnerships and resources, visit the Home Safety Council at www.homesafetycouncil.org.