Get the facts about traumatic injuries

Did you know that:

• In medical terms, the word trauma refers to a serious or critical bodily injury, wound or shock.
• Common traumatic injuries include fractures, burns and head injuries.
• Trauma-related injuries frequently are caused by crashes involving cars, snowmobiles and other types of motor vehicles, fires and falls.
• Trauma is the No. 1 cause of death among children and adults younger than 45 years of age.
• Trauma is the No. 4 cause of death among all age groups.
• There are approximately 170,000 deaths from trauma-related injuries each year, or more than 400 deaths per day.
• Traumatic injuries kill more children than the next 10 causes of death combined.
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic injury in elderly people, accounting for 84 percent of all hip fractures.
• Trauma is preventable.

For more information about preventing traumatic injuries, please call Portage Health at (906) 483-1000.