Staggering injury costs!

The lifetime cost of injuries occurring in a single year in the U.S. is an estimated $406 billion in medical expenses and productivity losses, according to a study released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Nearly $80.2 billion is attributed to medical expenses and $326 billion to lifetime productivity losses for the almost 50 million injuries that required medical treatment.

The actual costs of injuries may be greater, because police services, caregiver time and cost for pain and suffering are not included.

The study also found that males account for 70 percent of the costs of injuries, due to higher fatality rates and the magnitude of their lost wages. Motor vehicle accidents are responsible for 22 percent of injury costs and fall injuries for 20 percent.

“The financial and economic impact of injuries in the U.S. is serious,” says CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding. “However, by expanding our science-based injury prevention programs, we can drastically reduce these costs and help people live longer and healthier lives.”