| HAVE A SAFE & HEALTHY
SUMMER! |
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| Every year Americans look forward to
summer vacations, camping, family reunions, picnics, and the Fourth
of July. Summertime, however, also brings drownings, injuries from
fireworks, and other seasonal illnesses and injuries. Keep yourself
and your loved ones safe and healthy as you head for summer! |
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EXAMPLES OF IMPORTANT HEALTH DISPARITIES |
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Water-Related Fatalities |
| Swimming and wading can be fun, active,
and healthy ways to spend time in the summer. This summer, swimming
pools will be filled with millions of people having fun and staying
cool. But in 2000, there were 3,281 unintentional drownings in the
United States, averaging nine people per day. This does not include
drownings in boating-related incidents. |
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In 2002, American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN)
had an age-adjusted drowning death rate of 2.4 per 100,000, 1.8
times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic whites (1.3 per
100,000). |
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AI/AN males were especially at risk for drowning in
2002, with an age-adjusted death rate of 3.4 per 100,000, compared
to 2.0 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic white males and 1.3 per 100,000
for AI/AN females. |
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In 2002, African American children ages 5 to 19 years
were 2.6 times more likely to drown as non-Hispanic white children
in the same age group (crude rates are African Americans: 2.2 per
100,000 vs. whites: 0.8 per 100,000). |
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In 2002, males of all races were 3.6 times more likely
to drown than were females, with an age-adjusted drowning death rate
of 2.26 per 100,000 (compared to females: 0.63 per 100,000). |
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In 2002, children 0-4 years were 2.2 times more likely
to drown than those ages 5 and higher (crude rates are 0-4 years:
2.9; 5+ years: 1.3). The most common locations of nonfatal injuries
for the very young children were residential pools. As children
grew older, more injuries occurred in natural water settings. |
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Fireworks-Related Injuries |
| The U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission estimates that about 8,800 people were treated in
emergency rooms in 2002 for injuries associated with fireworks. Most
injuries involved the hands, head, and eyes. The U.S. Fire
Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Data Center estimates that
improper use of fireworks causes more than 6,000 fires and more than
$8 million in damage. |
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About 70% of fireworks-related injuries in 2003
occurred between June 20 and July 20. Males represented 72% of all
fireworks injuries in this period, with 4,900 injuries. Males are
at greater risk for fireworks injuries at all ages. |
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About 45.6% of persons injured from fireworks in 2003
were children ages 14 years and younger. |
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From June 20-July 20 2003, children ages 5 to 9 years
had a fireworks-related injury rate of 6.5 per 100,000 people, the
highest rate of all ages. |
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| FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
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Boating Safety |
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CDC Highlights Summer Health and Safety Tips |
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Food-Related Diseases |
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Food Safety Office |
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Spotlight on Injuries from Fireworks |
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Swim Healthy, Swim Safely |
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Water-Related Diseases |
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Water-Related Injuries |
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Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) |
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Summer Fire Safety Tips |
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National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC) |
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Summer Sun is a Vision Threat |
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Water Safety |
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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
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CPSC Stops Hazardous Products At the Docks: Preventing Fireworks
Injuries and Deaths |
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2001Fireworks Annual Report |
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CPSC Warns: Summer Fun Brings More Emergency Room Visits |
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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
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Have Fun This Summer, Safely! |
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A Primer on Summer Safety |
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WWW.Foodsafety.gov |
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National Fire Protection Association |
