Road accidents top other causes of external injuries, deaths

THE Department of Health on Wednesday called on all enforcement agencies to strictly implement both the Mandatory Helmet Act of 2010 and the Seatbelt Use Act of 1999 as the agency recorded that road accidents topped other causes of external injuries and deaths in the country.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona made the call based on a report by the agency’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for the third quarter of 2011.

According to Ona, a total of 6,515 injuries were reported by 47  government and private hospitals during the period. More than half or 59.6 percent of the total reported injury cases occurred among the 20 years old to 59 years old bracket, while the 0 to 19 years old age group accounted for 34.8 percent. On the other hand, injury among older persons (60 years old or older) is at 5.7 percent.

The agency said that there were three males injured for every female in the 15 years old to 39 years old age group. However, the group of older persons aged 65 and above had two females injured for every single male.

It added that most common external causes of injuries were transport/vehicular crash (28.5 percent), mauling (21.6 percent), fall (18 percent), and contact with sharp objects (15.1 percent). Other causes include bites/stings (6.4 percent), burns (2 percent), gunshots (1.4 percent), chemicals (0.1 percent), hanging (0.1 percent) and drowning (0.1 percent). –Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz, Manila Times