Injury Facts Reveal the Extent of the Problem

The new Injury Research Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin (IRC-MCW) hopes to contribute to a reduction of accident and injury fatalities and disabilities in Wisconsin, regionally and nationwide. (See accompanying article "It’s Just an Accident.")

The IRC-MCW was recently awarded a $4.5 million grant from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), making it the 11th IRC in the U.S. and the fifth to be located at a medical college. Wisconsin is part of Region V of the federal program, which also includes Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana and Ohio.

Some sobering statistics show why the IRC-MCW is a research effort whose time has come.

In Wisconsin:

• Over 2,700 Wisconsin residents die of injuries each year.
  
• Motor vehicles and falls are the most common cause of unintentional injury in Wisconsin.
  
• Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among children ages 1-17 years and young adults ages 18-34 years.
  
• Firearms are the most common cause of intentional injury in Wisconsin, accounting for a majority of both homicides and suicides.

• Together, intentional and unintentional injuries account for more deaths of Americans under age 25 than all other causes of death combined.
• Each year approximately 150,000 Americans die from an injury and over 2 million Americans are hospitalized for their injuries. Many of those who are hospitalized suffer from permanent disabilities.
  This article includes information from:
  Medical College of Wisconsin Injury Research Center
  Article Created: 2002-01-30
  Article Updated: 2002-01-30

  
  MCW Health News presents up-to-date information on patient care and medical research by the physicians of the Medical College of Wisconsin.