The 2019 cost of injury in the U.S. was $4.2 trillion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The costs include spending on health care, lost work productivity, as well as estimates of cost for lost quality of life and lives lost.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) County Health Status Profiles (Profiles) 2023 reveals notable increases in age-adjusted death rates due to accidents or unintentional injuries and the rate of drug overdose deaths. San Bernardino County exceeds the State average and Healthy People 2030 target for deaths due to homicide, accidents, related deaths, motor vehicle traffic accidents, and firearm-related deaths.
Key findings from the CHA included:
- The injury death rate in San Bernardino County increased from 46.1 per 100,000 in 2016 to 75.4 in 2021 (1,659 deaths). The increase was driven in part by unintentional injuries, which increased 99.2% between 2016 and 2021, from 27.5 per 100,000 to 54.8 per 100,000 (1,205 deaths).
- Among injuries resulting in hospitalizations, the leading cause of injury was unintentional injuries (85.0% in 2021), followed by self-harm (7.0% in 2021) and assault (5.0% in 2021). The rate of injury resulting in hospitalization increased in San Bernardino County from 2016 to 2021 by 9.0% (12,201 and 13,313, respectively). Child/Adult abuse was the most prominent assault related injury (32.0% of assault-related injuries).
- Unintentional injury was also the main driver of emergency department (ED) visits in San Bernardino County (89.7%). However, assault was the second leading reason for ED visits, followed by self-harm related injuries (5.3% and 1.3%, respectively).
- 29.0% of all CTSA Survey respondents and 48.3% of respondents who identify as a person of color indicated that rape and sexual assault are among the most damaging to the health of their community.
- 32.4% of all CTSA Survey respondents and 49.3% of respondents who identify as a person of color indicated that car accidents related to driver behaviors (texting, aggressive, distracted, or impaired driving) are among the most damaging to the health of their community.