Facts on Injury

Unintentional and intentional injuries are a serious public health concern in Canada:

• The Cost of Injury in Canada report estimates the total economic burden of injury in Canada at $26.8 billion in 2010. This estimate includes direct costs of $15.9 billion arising from health care expenditures and indirect costs of $10.9 billion associated with reduced productivity from hospitalization, disability and premature death (Parachute. The Cost of Injury in Canada. Toronto, ON; Parachute, 2015).
• According to the World Health Organization, each year around the world, more than 5 million people die from injuries. This accounts for 9% of the world's deaths, nearly 1.7 times the number of deaths from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined. Globally, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds, with suicide and homicide the second and fourth leading causes of death in this age group, respectively (World Health Organization (WHO), Injury and Violence: The Facts 2014. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2014).
• In 2010, 15,886 Canadians died as a result of injuries (this figure excludes adverse events in medical care).^{Footnote 1}
• In 2009/10 (April 1 2009 - March 31 2010), 231,596 people were admitted to hospital in Canada because of injuries, excluding adverse events in medical care.^Footnote 1
• Injuries, excluding adverse events in medical care, are the leading cause of death for Canadians between the ages of 1 and 44 and the fifth leading cause of death for Canadians of all ages.^{Footnote 1}
• Many non-fatal injuries result in impairments and disabilities such as blindness, spinal cord injury and intellectual deficit due to brain injury.

Footnotes