CONTACT: Seth Boffeli, (608) 266-1683

REPORT: FALLS ARE NOW THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF INJURY-RELATED DEATHS IN WISCONSIN

MADISON—State health officials today reported that deaths from falls have surpassed both motor vehicle crashes and suicide as the most common cause of injury related deaths in Wisconsin. According to the new report, The Burden of Falls in Wisconsin, unintentional falls caused 918 deaths compared to 581 deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes.

"People know that car crashes kill, but may not think about falls," said Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake. "With more deaths associated with falls than with car crashes, it's clear we have a lot of work to do."

According to the report, serious injuries resulting from unintentional falls crossed several demographic lines. While a large majority of fall-related deaths (87%) and inpatient hospitalizations (70%) involved seniors, fall-related emergency department visit rates for young males age 14 and younger was nearly identical to that of males 65 and older.

Other report highlights include:

• Hospitalizations and emergency department visits due to falls result in $800 million in hospital charges each year in Wisconsin.
• More than 70% of the costs for fall-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits are paid by government insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
• Some 40% of those admitted to a nursing home had a fall in the 30 days prior to admission.

"It is time to get serious about the significant impact of falls in Wisconsin and the only way to do it is through prevention. Traffic deaths didn't go down on their own, they went down thanks to prolonged efforts on motor vehicle and highway safety. We need the same effort on falls prevention," Timberlake added.

Both the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health contributed to the report. Dr. Steve Hargarten, Emergency Medicine Physician and Director of the Injury Research Center at MCW added, "There is evidence that communities, health care organizations and public health agencies can effectively reduce falls; however, we need a committed statewide effort in Wisconsin to make an impact."

Dr. Jane Mahoney, Associate Professor of Geriatrics at the UW-Madison and Executive Director of the new Wisconsin Institute on Healthy Aging has recommended the following prevention efforts for Wisconsin seniors.

• Begin a regular exercise program to improve your balance
• Have your health care provider review your medicines
• Have your vision checked
• Make your home safer

Dr. Mahoney cautions that improving your homes safety is not enough and a combination of these four strategies is most effective to reduce your risk of a fall.

For additional information about fall prevention or programs in your community:
http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/InjuryPrevention/FallPrevention/

Local/tribal aging units - http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/aging/contacts/coagof.htm

ADRC - http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ltcare/adrc/

CDC - http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html

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Last Revised:  April 18, 2013