Nearly 80 Percent of Deaths in the First Three Decades of Life are Due to Unintentional Injury

It turns out that the first three decades of a person's life is a dangerous time when it comes to unintentional injuries. Scientists have found that nearly 80 percent of deaths during this time period are due to unintentional injury or violence.

A new report by CDC researchers showed that more Americans between the ages of one and 30 die from injury than any other cause. In fact, each year nearly 180,000 people in the United States die from preventable causes such as automobile accidents, drowning, firearm-related injuries, falls, assault, and drug overdoses; that's equivalent to one injury death about every three minutes.

"Injuries and violence are not accidents are not inevitable," said Tamara M. Haegerich, the lead author of the new report, in a news release. "Injuries and violence are not accidents and are not inevitable. They can be prevented. Yet, although figures in public health maintain a common understanding of the definition, causes, and solutions to injuries and violence, this recognition might not be widely accepted by other audiences, including policy makers, clinical health professionals, and the public."

The researchers found that in 2010 alone, the top three causes of death for those between the ages of one and 30 were unintended injury, suicide and homicide. Almost four-fifths of deaths were due to injuries while only one-fifth were due to chronic diseases. In 2010, about 121,000 died due to unintentional injuries.

"The scientific evidence to support prevention of injury and violence is strong," said Haegerich. "We know the factors that place people at risk and it is possible to intervene with cost effective interventions. Child safety seats, seatbelt laws, and drink driving laws are good examples that have been proven effective at reducing the number of deaths due to injury, as well as reducing costs."

The findings reveal a possible way to lower death among this age group. Because injuries and violence are both preventable, new policies could potentially help curb the death rate among this age range.

The findings are published in the journal The Lancet.