In 2012, more than 21,000 people died as a result of everyday accidents. A significant mortality while many deaths could be avoided.
Falls, suffocation, drowning, burns… Each year more than 11 million French people are victims of accidents of the everyday life (AcVC) and more than 21,000 die of it. A mortality which declined little between 2000 and 2012 while many deaths can be avoided, reports the latest Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH) published on Tuesday.
According to the latest data, 21,470 deaths were caused by accidents at home, at school or in recreation and sports areas in 2012. Two-thirds of these deaths concerned those aged 75 and over, which makes the age group most affected. With 221 deaths in 2012, those under 15 are not spared either. This represents more than 4 deaths per week.
The health watch institute also points to regional disparities. It would indeed seem that the Bretons and the inhabitants of Nord-Pas-de-Calais are much more daredevil, or less aware of the risks. Conversely, Ile-de-France residents appear to be more cautious.
Source: Weekly epidemiological bulletin of January 10, 2017, Public Health France.
Different causes according to age
Falls at home or in the street were the leading cause of death at all ages. From the age of 75, it appears that 69% of deaths occurred by suffocation linked to the ingestion of food obstructing the respiratory tract. Among those under 25, drowning is the leading cause of death from AcVC, a third of which has affected those under 5. This is followed by accidental poisoning by drugs or alcohol, and trauma by fire (burns or the effects of smoke and toxic gas). For all these incidents, an excess male mortality was highlighted.
Source: Weekly epidemiological bulletin of January 10, 2017, Public Health France.
At the national level, the average annual rate of death from AcVC decreased by 2% between 2000 and 2012, in particular thanks to the decrease in mortality from falls. This decrease was greater among those under 15 (5%) than among those over 65. But at the same time, poisoning-related deaths rose 4.5%.
Simple actions to adopt
If the researchers welcome the drop in mortality from domestic accidents, they point out that they are still 5 times more numerous than road accidents and remain the leading cause of death in children. They thus underline the need to disseminate campaigns and set up preventive actions. To prevent the risk of falls in seniors, physical and regular activity has been proven, the authors quote. Actions as simple as removing carpets, improving lighting in the home or installing a banister on the stairs are effective.
To avoid drug poisoning, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) has repeatedly reminded us of the importance of respecting prescriptions or instructions for use. Regarding pediatric drugs, the agency also insists that the pipettes or measuring spoons sold with the products are not interchangeable. Mixing them runs the risk of dosage errors and poisoning.
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