For many decades, most of the leading causes of death in the United States were cancer and heart disease as they are responsible for 46% of deaths in our country.
While death is inevitable, we expect most people to live a long life. The average lifespan of Americans in 2019 is about 80 years old. With that being said though, accidents do happen and sometimes, accidents lead to death.
There are other causes of accidental deaths that are increasingly common in the US. The team at Weiss and Paarz decided to conduct a study on the most common causes of accidental death in our country. The CDC has data that dates back over the last 30 years focusing on the leading causes of death amongst Americans which is where these findings stem from. This list includes:
- Poisoning
- Motor Vehicle
- Suffocation by ingestion
- Falls
- Fires, Flames, Smoke
- Drowning
- Heat and Cold
- Stuck
- Machinery
- Mechanical Suffocation
Researching the leading causes of death means that there are ideas about how to prevent these deaths in the future. It allows authorities to work towards preventative measures.
When we compare from state to state, one of the leading causes of death that is common in almost all the states is death from motor vehicle accidents. Obviously, cars have made our lives very easy. We can now travel long distances using our vehicles, in a short amount of time. It’s important to note that hit and run cases aren’t abnormal in the United States. When an accident happens, sometimes the driver is confused or worried and they flee the scene. And while there are laws in every state about cases like that, there’s no law that can bring someone back from the dead.
Now let’s look directly at Virginia.
Leading Cause of Accidental Deaths in Virginia
The Old Dominion state’s leading cause of accidental death is poisoning. Accidental poisoning is unfortunately common in many places, but that is not to say it’s necessarily fatal. Alcohol poisoning is an example of an unintentional poisoning that can be life-threatening. With that in mind, these are the life-threatening signs of alcohol poisoning:
- Vomiting
- Irregular breathing or slow breathing
- Inability to wake up
- Hypothermia
- Seizures
It’s important to remember if you think someone has ingested too much alcohol to call 911. Additionally, it is important not to let them lay flat as they could choke on their own vomit. With the holiday season around the corner, there are many opportunities to imbibe. Virginia residents can keep in mind the signs of unintentional poisonings by keeping an eye on family members and friends as they’re celebrating this season.
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