Health News
Kentucky scored a dismal 3 on a scale of 10 in a safety study that assessed states against the the top 10 injury indicators in the country. The state had the 10th highest injury rate, with 76.6 Kentuckians per 100,000 dying from intentional or unintentional injuries.
Injuries are the third leading cause of death nationally, and the leading cause of death for Americans between ages 1 and 44.
The survey assessed states on whether they:
? Have primary seat belt laws.
? Require mandatory ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, including first offenders
? Require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
? Require booster seats to at least the age of 8.
? Require children to wear bicycle helmets.
? Allow people in dating relationships to get protection orders.
? Receive an A in the Break the Cycle Report, which examines teen dating violence.
? Have a strong concussion law.
? Have an active prescription drug monitoring program.
? Have a strong policy in emergency departments that allows researchers and officials to understand injury trends.
Kentucky got points for having a seat-belt law, a strong concussion law and a drug monitoring program. The state was close to getting credit for the booster seat indicator; it requires the seats for children until they are 7. Kentucky also reported more than 85 percent of injury discharges in its emergency departments, but the indicator only gave credit to states that do it more than 90 percent of the time. But Kentucky was far was perfect when it came to teen dating violence, receiving a F grade in the Break the Cycle report.
Because of its injury rate, the study concluded Kentuckains pay $26.8 million in lifetime medical costs due to fatal injuries and $3.3 billion for total lifetime work loss due to fatal injuries.
The study shows how injury prevention policies can help save lives. The report points out that after Kentucky repealed its universal helmet law in 1998, motorcycle deaths rose by 50 percent. (Read more)
- Help Prevent Leading Cause Of Child Death: Unintentional Injury
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- Centers For Disease Control Working To Find Ways To Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury; Affects One In Five Kentucky Households
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- States With Helmet Laws Have Far Fewer Motorcycle-related Deaths; Kentucky Doesn't Require Bikers To Wear Protective Headgear
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- Bike Helmets Are A Must
It?s the time of year to jump back on the bike and enjoy the spring weather. But before you head for the Gwynn Falls Trail, remember your bike helmet. Even experienced bike riders cannot always avoid collisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control...
Health News
Injury prevention policies in Kentucky lacking, study finds
Injuries are the third leading cause of death nationally, and the leading cause of death for Americans between ages 1 and 44.
The survey assessed states on whether they:
? Have primary seat belt laws.
? Require mandatory ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, including first offenders
? Require all motorcycle riders to wear helmets.
? Require booster seats to at least the age of 8.
? Require children to wear bicycle helmets.
? Allow people in dating relationships to get protection orders.
? Receive an A in the Break the Cycle Report, which examines teen dating violence.
? Have a strong concussion law.
? Have an active prescription drug monitoring program.
? Have a strong policy in emergency departments that allows researchers and officials to understand injury trends.
Kentucky got points for having a seat-belt law, a strong concussion law and a drug monitoring program. The state was close to getting credit for the booster seat indicator; it requires the seats for children until they are 7. Kentucky also reported more than 85 percent of injury discharges in its emergency departments, but the indicator only gave credit to states that do it more than 90 percent of the time. But Kentucky was far was perfect when it came to teen dating violence, receiving a F grade in the Break the Cycle report.
Because of its injury rate, the study concluded Kentuckains pay $26.8 million in lifetime medical costs due to fatal injuries and $3.3 billion for total lifetime work loss due to fatal injuries.
The study shows how injury prevention policies can help save lives. The report points out that after Kentucky repealed its universal helmet law in 1998, motorcycle deaths rose by 50 percent. (Read more)
- Help Prevent Leading Cause Of Child Death: Unintentional Injury
Every day 2,000 children die from preventable injuries, making unintentional injuries the leading cause of death for children in the United States. More of these injuries occur during the summer than any other season. "Kids are outside more, out of school...
- Centers For Disease Control Working To Find Ways To Prevent Traumatic Brain Injury; Affects One In Five Kentucky Households
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using a public-health approach to find strategies to prevent traumatic brain injuries and reduce the physical, psychological, economic and social impacts they cause. Image: brainline.orgTraumatic...
- How To Keep Kids Safe From Traumatic Brain Injuries This Summer
About 1.7 million people in the U.S. suffer a traumatic brain injury each year, and nearly half a million children under 15 visit an emergency room for TBI. A brain injury is traumatic if it disrupts the normal function of the brain. Dr. Michael Egnor,...
- States With Helmet Laws Have Far Fewer Motorcycle-related Deaths; Kentucky Doesn't Require Bikers To Wear Protective Headgear
Petersburg (Tex.) Volunteer Fire Dept. photo?Fewer motorcyclists die in states that require helmets, and the costs to society are lower too,? reports Mike Stobbe for The Associated Press. About five times as many no-helmet biker deaths occur in states...
- Bike Helmets Are A Must
It?s the time of year to jump back on the bike and enjoy the spring weather. But before you head for the Gwynn Falls Trail, remember your bike helmet. Even experienced bike riders cannot always avoid collisions. According to the Centers for Disease Control...