HEALTH RISK

Unintentional injuries constitute the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, killing approximately 100,000 people each year. During the first four decades of life, unintentional injuries claim more lives than infections or chronic diseases. In 1987, 2.3 million years of life were prematurely taken by unintentional injuries, more than from any other cause. Motor vehicle crashes account for approximately half the deaths from unintentional injuries; falls rank second, followed by poisoning, drowning and residential fires.

States with mandatory seat belt use laws have significantly lower motor vehicle crash death rates. An estimated 4,500 lives were saved in 1988 as a result of the 45% seat belt use rate obtained nationwide, and 3,800 of those were in States that have mandatory seat belt laws. Alaska is one of the States with a mandatory seat belt law.

YEAR 2000 NATIONAL HEALTH OBJECTIVES

Increase use of occupant protection systems, such as safety belts, inflatable safety restraints, and child safety seats, to at least 85% of motor vehicle occupants.

Source: State of Alaska, Division of Public Health, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 1992.