Following are some interesting facts and figures about accidents and unintentional injuries in the U.S. for the year 2003 (from the National Center for Health Statistics).

• In 2003, there were 23.8 million injury and poisoning incidents requiring medical attention, a rate of 83 episodes per 1,000 people in the U.S. The rate was higher for males than for females.

• Youth aged 12-17 years and adults aged 75 years and over had the highest rates of injury and poisoning incidents requiring medical attention.

• For males, the rate of injury resulting from being struck by a person or object was almost two times the rate for females.

• About 5.2 million injury and poisoning incidents requiring medical attention occurred during non-sport leisure activities, while:
• 3.3 million episodes occurred while working at a paid job, and
• 3.4 million episodes occurred while working around the house or yard.

• In 2003, 5.9 million injury and poisoning episodes occurred inside the home, and another 4.9 million occurred outside the home.

• Streets and highways (3.8 million episodes) and recreation areas (3.0 million episodes) were the next most common locations for injuries and poisonings requiring medical attention, following those occurring inside the home.

• The rate of injury and poisoning episodes occurring inside the home were higher for females than for males, and was highest for persons aged 75 years and over compared with persons in other age groups.