From the Centers for Disease Control*:
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Injury is the leading cause of death of Americans in the first four decades of life;
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Violent and unintentional injuries cause more than 146,000 deaths each year and cost an estimated $260 billion annually (in 1995 dollars);
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Treatment of injuries and their long-term effects account for 12% of medical spending in the United States; and,
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Hospital emergency departments treat an average 55 people for injuries every minute.