Each year, millions of Americans are rushed to emergency rooms to receive treatment for often-serious injuries that could have been prevented. Simply buckling a seat belt, strapping on a bicycle helmet, or ensuring that children use proper athletic equipment could prevent thousands of accidental deaths and injuries annually. And taking these steps would save billions of dollars in health care costs.
The failure of crash victims to wear seat belts leads to an estimated 9,200 unnecessary deaths and 143,000 needless injuries, resulting in $26 billion in health care costs each year. Similarly, wearing bicycle helmets would prevent an estimated 500 bicycle-related fatalities and 151,000 nonfatal head injuries each year saving more than $3 billion in health care costs.
By simply buckling seat belts, wearing bicycle helmets, and using other safety equipment — and making sure our children do, too — we can save billions of dollars in unnecessary medical expenses and help keep health care affordable.
*Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, 2003.
Things You Can Do:
Eat Responsibly
Practice Safety/Prevention
Manage Chronic Disease
Step Up Physical Activity
Save the ER for Emergencies
Request Generic Drugs
Develop an Ongoing Relationship with Your Physician
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