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CITY OF LINCOLN   •   NEWS RELEASE   •   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date:
October 2, 2001
For More Information Contact:
Diane Gonzolas, Citizen Information Center, 441-7831
Steve Beal, Health Department, 441-8042 Pramod Dwivedi, 441-6271
Injury Surveillance Report Released

Mayor Don Wesely and health officials today released the latest Injury Surveillance Report for Lincoln and Lancaster County. The report is a comprehensive analysis of injuries (1992-1999) and deaths (1992-1998) that is used to assess and monitor the occurrence of injury.

"We are one of the few communities to have this kind of local assessment tool, that pinpoints the reasons people in our community are injured," said Wesely. "As a community, we must do all we can to make sure our homes, schools, work places and neighborhoods are safe and risk-free."

Joining the Mayor in releasing the report were Bruce Dart, Director of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department and representatives from St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and BryanLGH Medical Center.

"Each year, 95 lives are lost due to injury, and about 8,500 injured people are treated in emergency rooms at St. Elizabeth and BryanLGH," said Dart. "The Injury Surveillance Report is a valuable document for agencies and organizations in program planning and evaluation, as well as a grant writing and reporting.

Dart said the causes of injuries and deaths vary by intent, gender and age. Highlights from the report include the following statistics for Lincoln and Lancaster County:

  • More than 200,000 injury events (1992-99) and 664 deaths (1992-98) occurred.
  • In general, injuries were the fourth leading cause of death.. But the years of potential life lost due to injuries surpassed all other leading causes of death.
  • Injuries were the leading cause of death in the individuals age one through 44.
  • The rates for injury deaths in the county are lower than those for the state and country.
  • More men than women died due to injuries, but more women sustained self-inflicted injuries.
  • Motor vehicle traffic injuries were the leading cause of death followed by firearm, poisoning and falls.
  • Falls were the leading cause of injury events followed by struck by/against, motor vehicle traffic, cut/pierce and overexertion.
  • More women than men sustained serious injuries.

    Copies of the full report are available at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department.

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