Dangerous Ranking: New Mexico Is Highest in Injury-Related Deaths
New Mexico has the highest rate of injury-related deaths in the country.
July 01, 2012
National rankings are revealing. If a state is excelling or falling short in a certain area, comparative assessments can show how it stacks up against others.In the case of New Mexico, the rankings on injury-related deaths are disturbing. New Mexico has the highest rate of these deaths in the country, according to a new report by two respected nonprofit groups.
This article will discuss what that report found, and what results say about fatal car accidents and other accident deaths in New Mexico.
Accident Deaths in New Mexico
The survey was conducted by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It found that the rate of injury-related deaths in New Mexico is 97.8 per 100,000.
That rate is the highest in the country. The national average is 36.1 per 100,000. So New Mexico's rate of injury-related deaths is 2 1/2 times the national average.
The report was called "The Facts Hurt." The goal was not only to document the problem of deaths from injuries, but to identify ways that injuries could be prevented more effectively.
Nationally, the injury numbers really add up. About 50 million Americans require medical treatment for injuries every year. More than 2.8 million of these require hospitalization.
The numbers of deaths are also daunting. The number of children and teens who die each year from injuries suffered in accidents is nearly 12,000.
Injury Prevention
The Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation enlisted a committee of injury prevention specialists to help with the report. The goal was to develop baseline information on policy strategies that are associated with reducing injuries and untimely deaths.
These specialists found, for example, that 34 states and the District of Columbia fail to require ignition interlocks after drunk driving convictions. The interlock device can reduce the risk of another impaired driving accident.
Another example is concussion safety laws in youth sports, to help prevent traumatic brain injuries. Thirteen states lack such laws.
Of course, having a law on the books is no guarantee of consistent enforcement. This is often the case in the 30-some states that have various bans or restrictions on texting while driving or other prohibited cellphone use behind the wheel.
No state is perfect. But to improve prevention of injury-related deaths, New Mexico has lots of work to do.
Article provided by Davis Law Firm
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