Indicator 8: Unintentional Injuries

 

Why This Is Important

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for Maine residents below the age of 35.
They are caused by motor vehicle accidents, fire/burns, falls, drowning, poisoning, and
firearms. Maine’s youngest people are not safe when they suffer the consequences of
preventable unintentional injuries. Injuries account for about 3 9 % of the loss of productive
life for people under 35 years old. This exceeds the losses of productive life from heart disease,
cancer and stroke combined.

 

 

Where We Stand

The unintentional injury death rate (five-year floating average) for Maine children and youth aged
0-19 dropped from 1990-1994 to 1994-1998. As of 1998-2002, the unintentional injury death
rate has increased slightly to 15.5 deaths per 100,000 people under the age of 19.

 

 

Data Sources and Context

This data is compiled and reported by the Office of Data, Research and Vital Statistics, Bureau
of Health, Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The source of the data is the Maine
mortality data files.