
A new report reveals just how big of a problem accidental deaths are.
There is a disturbingly high likelihood that you’re going to die this way, according to a new report.
The National Safety Council revealed that more than 136,000 people died accidentally in 2014, a 4.2 percent increase over the year, and the figure is up an astonishing 15.5 percent in the last decade.
Overdose and accidental poisoning led the list, beating out vehicle crashes. A total of 42,000 people in 2014 died from overdose or accidental poisoning.
Deaths from vehicle crashes are declining because of increased vehicle safety.
Use of opioids is one of the main drivers in overdoses. These drugs killed 13,486 people in 2014.
Accidental falls also increased heavily as a cause of death, jumping from less than 10,000 in 1992 to 32,000 in 2014. Scientists think this is because society is aging as a whole.
“Unintentional poisoning deaths in the adult population were not prevalent until the early 1990s. Since then this category has skyrocketed to 1st place, driven by unintentional drug overdose – predominantly from prescription painkillers,” the statement reads. “In the latest edition, the Council has also gathered new data on such topics as: Occupational injury and illness undercount, Driveway and parking lot crashes, Distracted walking, Falls, Smoke alarms.”
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