� 

FROM VITAL & HEALTH STATISTICS OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE � Public Health Service I Number 18 = March 1,1978 

Episodes of Persons Injured: United States, 19751 

Each year, as part of its interview survey of 

the civilian nonin-stitutionalized Pom-dation of 

the United States, the National Ce~te~ for Health 

Statistics collects a limited amount of data on 

injuries resulting from accidents and other causes. 

Data on this topic are obtained on the nature of 

the injury, where the accident happened, whether 

the person was at his or her job or business when 

the accident occurred, and whether a motor vehicle was involved. 

During 1975 two supplements relating to injuries were included in the Health Interview Survey. Both were developed in conjunction with 

the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 

Since respondents were to be asked about injuries occurring during the 6 months prior to 

interview and memory decay was expected to be 

a major problem in using a reference period of 

this length, the first supplement served as an extensive probe to improve recall of accidental injuries during that Period. The second supple- ment w= in-tended“to obtain—aside from all of 

the usual information collected each year on 

injuries-the following types of additional information: (1) where (if it was medically attended) 

the person first received medical attention 

for the injury, (2) more detailed information 

for accidents in which motor vehicles were involved, (3) how the accident happened, (4) what 

product or products (if any) were directIy or 

indirectly involved, (5) whether there were any 

special circumstances which contributed to causing the accidental injury, and (6) whether the 

injury was intentionally inflicted. 

A 6-month reference period was used in 

order to produce a more extensive data base 

e lThis report prepared by Peter W. Ries, Ph. D., Dim”­

sion of Health InterviewStatistics. 

than is obtained from the customary 2-week 

reference period used each year for accidental 

injuries in the HeaIth Interview Survey. However, in accordance with the usual annual procedure, data on accidental injuries were incIuded 

only if they met at least one of two conditions: 

(1) the injury was medically attended, or (2) it 

caused the person to cut down on his or her 

usual activity for at least 1 day. 

Injury data may be tabulated in at least 

three different ways, depending on whether the 

topic of interest is (1) the person involved in one 

or more accidents causing injuries during a given 

reference period, (2) the particular episode resulting in injury, or (3) each individual injury 

itself. The unit used in this report is the epkode 

of persons injury, that is, the event which caused 

the injury or injuries. The estimates shown in 

the detailed tables are derived from the 1975 

accident and injury supplements; they are, however, based on only those reported experiences 

occurring during the 2 weeks preceding the interview. 

The results from the 1975 supplements indicate that during this period there were about 

74.2 miIIion episodes of persons injured among 

the civilian noninstitutionzdized poptdation.z 

Tables 1-6 show these episodes distributed by 

responses to several supplemental questions according to various sociodemographic and 

health-related characteristics. Tables 7 and 8 

show the types of products involved in the product-related episodes. 

2This estimate differs from the estimate of 71,903 

million persons injured shown in the 1975 Current Estimates because (1) the definition of injury differs somewhat, and (2) the estimates shown in Current Estimates 

are derived from the usual questionnaire and those 

shown in this report are derived from the data collected 

in the supplements. 
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2 admncedata 

* 

Respondents reporting episodes of accidental injury were asked: “Where did the accident 

happen?” Tables 1 and 2 show that when unknown places are excluded, about half of the episodes (50.4 percent) happened at home, with 

28.9 percent happening in the house and 21.5 

percent occurring adjacent to the house. Industrial places accounted for 11.7 percent of the 

episodes, followed by street and highway (9.5 

percent), place of recreation (8.8 percent), 

school (8.2 percent), and other places (11.4 percent). 

Tables 3 and 4 present the number and percent distribution of episodes by what the person 

was doing when the accidental injury occurred, 

according to selected characteristics.3 An estimated 25.7 percent of the episodes occurred 

3The ~reci5e wOr&g was, “What was . . . doing at 

the time of the accident?” 

Table 1. Number of episodes of persOns injured, by place where accident ~ppened and selected characteristics:United StatesP 1975


I[h,:> <,,, s.rvcy dcsiw. Rcncral qwdficacb. d i“formacion . . tlw rckbiiity of tbc cscimaces mm ~ivcn in cl). JW Iuscd Ihowclmkl mwrviws of TIIC civilian ,,<,ni,,scit. tie,, alkLc<lpopul.cion. TIIC s, an

technic.i IIOMI


Ind&Jal school 

Selected characteristic T 1 

Number of episodes in thousands


All episodes 74,164 35,736 20,514 15,221 6,725 3,312 5,785 6,264 8,087 3.254


Sex
 —


Male----------------------------- 39,653 15,445 6,500 8,945 2,994 6,920 ;,;;: 4,409 5,076 993 � Female 34,511 20,291 14,014 6,277 3,731 11,393 1,855 3,011 2,261

Age


Under 17 years------------------- 25,908 14,019 6,488 7,531 1,898 <<23.7 3,963 2,369 2,396 1,047


17-44 years---------------------- 32,757 12,468 8,137 4,330 3,374 6,679 1,677 3,503 3,677 1,379


45-64 years---------------------- 10>796 5,959 3,747 2,211 1,007 1,326 *146 ,?354 1,507 fc498


65 years and Over 4,703 3,290 2,142 1,149 *446 Wo *- *38 *508 *330


Family income


Less than $5,000 6,93B 4,293 2,645 1,253 710 683 *462 1,513 768


$5,000-$9,999 7,547 4,400 3,146 1,155 2,3S7 1,147 1,551 2,162 ?583


$10,000-$14,999 7,753 4,824 2,928 1,041 2,312 1,200 1,421 2,066 868


$15,000-$24,999 8,477 4,630 3,848 2,006 1,550 ,1,611 1,476 1 459 901


$25,000 or more------------------ 3,175 1,581 1,593 ~c596 3<566 863 977 ;<467 9<89


Not reported 1,847 786 1,o61 675 787 *281 *377 >*419 >*44


Geographic region


Northeast 15’,677 7,120 4,153 2,966 1,485 1,603 1,143 1,908 1,384 1,034 

North Central 20,103 9,230 5,132 4,098 1,900 2,494 1,901 1,517 m1,902 1,158 

South 21,605 10,604 5,611 4,993 1,965 2,783 1,309 1,503 2,694 747 

West------------------------------16,779 8,7S2 5,618 3,164 1,375 1,431 1,432 1,336 2,108 *314 

Place of residence


SMSA, central city--------------- 22,215 10,644 6,564 4,080 2,352 2,207 1,566 1,900 2,651 894


SMSA, not central city 29,482 14,491 S,388 6,103 2,372 3,473 2,360 2,743 2,707 1,336


Outside ~SA--------------------. 22,467 10,6OL 5,562 5,038 2,001 2,632 1,860 1,621 2,728 1,024


Days of restricted activity


None----------------------------- 28,442 14,415 8,210 6,205 1,847 3,397 2,166 2,197 2,876 1,545’


1 or more 45,721 21,321 12,304 9,016 4,878 4,915 3,620 4,067 5,211 1,709


Bed days


None----------------------------- 56,436 

1 or more 17,728 

27,683 

8,053 

15>87C 

4,644 

11,s12 

3,409 

4,458 

2,267 

6,253 

2,059 

4,868 

917 

5,569 

2,517 

2,614 

640 

Medical attention 

Attended at emergency room------- 25,227 11,491 5,577 5,914 3,435 2,895 1,671 2,806 “2,425 :~505 

Attended, but not at emergenty 29,936 1;,:;; 9,142 5,80C 1,661 3,952 2,528 1,393. 3,773 1,687 room 

Attended, place unknown 2,692 924 701 *137 5,286 *1S3 +52 $~187 *221


Not medically attended 16,3D9 7:677 4,871 2,806 1,49: 1,180 * 2,015 1,701 841


*Numbers !xeceded bv an asterisk have a relative standard error of more thar ) percent; estimates given sol ly for combining


with other tills. “ !. e

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while the person was working, 17.5 percent 

while traveling, and 16.0 percent, while the person was participating in some form of recreation. Other forms of activity accounted for 32.5 

percent of the total, while no major activity was 

indicated by the respondent for 8.3 percent of 

the episodes. 

The term “working” as used in tables 3 and 

4 applies to any kind of work, including work 

performed while the person was not at his or her 

admc&Ma3 

job or business (for instance, cleaning up the 

yard). Table 5 shows the number and percent 

distribution of episodes for persons 17 years and 

over who were working at their job or business 

when the episode occurred.4 Thus, of the approximately 17.2 million episodes shown in 

4The question posed was: “Was . . . at work at his job 

or business when tie accident happened?” 

Table 2. Percent distribution of episodes of Persons injured by place where accident happened, according to selected characteris­ tics: United States, 1975 

[mu wc bawdonho.seh.dd inmviews of the civilian nunhstimcimudizcd pap.lnticm. The survq desigm,gmeml qualifications, andi“forrnati.” cmthe reliability ofthe cstinmtes am give”
 i.the

technical
 notes]


Selected characteristic All Other
 places’ place


All episodes


& 

Male----------------------------------------


Female--------------------------------------


Age
 —


Under 17 years------------------------------
 17-44 years---------------------------------


45-64 years---------------------------------


65 years and over---------------------------


Family income


Less than $5,000----------------------------


$5,000-$9,999


$10,000-$14,999


$15,000-$24,999


$25,000 or more


Not reported


Geographic region


Northeast


North Central--------------------
 South---------------------------------------


Uest----------------------------------------


Place of residence


8MSA, central city--------------------------


8MSA, not central city----------------------


Outside SMSA--------------------------------


Days of restricted‘activity


None


1 or more


Bed days


None 

1 or more 

Medical attention


Attended at emergency room-----------------­
 -Attended, but not at emergency room---------


Attended, place unknot ---------------------


Not medically attended


Percent distribution


100.0 50.f 28.9 21.5 9.5 11.7 8.2 8.$ 11.4 

100.0 40.C 16.8 23.1 17.9 9.9 Ill 13.1 100.0 fjL,< 43.5 19.5 L;:i 4.3 6.1 5.[ 9.3 

100.0 56.L 26.1 30.2 7.6 *0.9 15.9 9.: 9.6 100.0 39.; 25.9 13.8 10.8 21.3 5.3 11. i 11.7 100.0 57.5 36.4 21.5 9.8 12.9 *1.4 *3.1 14.6 100.0 75.: 49.0 26.2 *lo.2 *2.1 *- *0.$ *11.6 

100.0 60.C 37.1 22.9 10.8 ,5.9 *4.C 13.1 100.0 47.: 27.6 19.7 1::; 7.2 9.7 13.6 100.0 49.1 30.5 18.5 ::: 14.6 9.C 13.1 

100.0

100.0 47.8 

42.1 

:;.: 24.0 

24.2 9.0 

15.4 *8.5 

17.9 

13.0 

*6.4 *8.6 *7.O W.6 

100.0 100.0

100.0 100.0 

48.6 

48.7 

50.8 

53.3 

28.4 

27.1 

26.9 

34.1 

20.3 

21.6 

23.9 

19.2 

10.1 

10.0 

9.4 

8.4 

10.9 

13.2 

13.3 

8.7 

lj:j 

8:7 

13.C 

8.0 

;:: 

J:: 

12.9 

12.8 

100.0 

100.0 

100.0 

49.9 

51.5 

49.4 

30.8 

29.8 

25.9 

19.1 

21.7 

23.5 

11.0 

::: 

10.4 

12.3 

12.3 

7.3 

::; 

8.9 

9.7 

7.6 

12.4 

12:; 

100.0 100.0 53.6 

48.4 30.5 

28.0 23.1 

20.5 1!:? 12.6 

11.2 ::; ::; 10.7 

11.8 

100.0

100.0 51.4 

47.1 29.5 

27.2 

21.9 

20.0 1!:; 11.6 

12.1 9.0 

5.4 9.3 

7.5 

10.3 

14.7 

100.0 100.0 g:.; 22.6 

32.4 

23.9 

20.5 

L3.9 

5.9 

11.7 

14.0 6.8 

8.9 1:.$ 

11?:: 

100.0 51.1 27.9 23.2 12.1 9.3 ::; & 8.8 

100.0 65:8 37.4 28.4 *5.5 *11.6 *7.4 *2:1 *7.6 100.0 49.6 31.5 18.1 9.7 7.6 9.1 13.0 11.0 —— 

� ‘Excludes place unknown.


*Numbers preceded by an asterisk have a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; estimates given solely for combining
 with other cells.

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Table 3. Number of episodesof persons injured, by activity status and type of activitywhen accidenthap­


pened and selectedcharacteristics:United States, 1975


[Data are based on household interviews of the civiCian noninstitutionalized population, The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability 

of the estimates are given in the technical notes] 

Selectedcharacteristic


II i I I I I 

Number of episodes in thousands


All episodes 74,164 18,646 11,613 12,717 !3,539I 6,012 1,636


—
Sex


Male	 39,653 12,542 8,392 5,597 9,869 2,537 717


34,511 6,104 3,221 7,121 !3,670 3,475 920
 Female 

— 

Age

1

Under 17 years 25,908 1,414 6,123 3,724 12,041 1,908 698


17-44 years 32,757 12,196 5,175 4,903 7,620 2,376 *486


45-64 years 10,796 4,137 ?<315 2,345 2,733 1,044 *223
 -
 65 years and over 4,703 898 it 1,745 1,145 684 ft2313


Family incmne


Less than $5,000 12,327 3,045 1,172 2,303 4,333 1,102 *371


$5,000-$9,999 16,531 3,693 2,641 3,064 5,270 1,416 *447


$1o,ooo-$14,999- 16,660 4,831 2,503 2,343 5,472 1,246 *265


$15,000-$24,999 17,481 3,880 3,198 3,122 5,630 1,363 *287


$25,000or more--- 6,734 1,980 1,669 857 1>587 <c416 *226


Not reported 4,431 1,217 *428 1,029 1,246 *469 +<41


Geographicregion


Northeast 15,677 3,14C 2,83: 2,71C 5,361 1,405 *227


North Cent~.al 20,103 5,427 3,34: 3,51C 6,18( 1,33: *309


sou.r~ 21,605 6,61C 2,72: 3,39C 6,67( 1,53: 674


West---------------------------------------- 16,779 3,47C 2,71< 3,107 5,32; 1,73( ~c426


Place of residence


SMSA, central city 22,215 4,967 3,39: 3,59! 7,621 1,98! 656


sMSA, not central city 29,482 7,305 5,00! 4,677 9,44( 2,37: 678


Outside SMSA 22,467 6,37! 3,21( 4,44E 6,47[ 1,65: *302


Days of restrictedactivity


None 28,442 7,282 $,;;: 4,264 9,751 2,16( 788


1 or more----------------------------------- 45,721 11,364 2, 8,452 13,78t 3,84( 848


Bed days


None---------------------------------------- 56,436 14,637 9,27: 9,08C 18,00: 4,25: 1,189


1 or more 17,728 4,009 2,34( 3,638 5,53: 1,76( *447


Medical attention


Attended at emergencyroom------------------ 25,227 6,931 4,14! 5,69? 6,08: 2,151 *224


Attended,but not at emergencyroom 29,936 7,65? 3$;;I 4,147 11,17$ 2,14: 1,059


Attended,place unknown 2,692 601 *462 1,09[ ;619 :
 *135 

Not medically attended 16,309 I 3,461 3,50{ 2,415 5,18( 1,52( ic218 

*Numbersprecededby an aeteriskhave a relative standarderror of more than 30 percent; estimatesgiven


solely for combiningwith other cells.

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� 

ackncedata 5 

Table 4. Percent distribution of episodes of persons injured by activity status and type of ac­


tivity when accident happened, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1975


[Data
are based on household interviewsof the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey design, generalqualifications, and information on 

the reliabilityy of the estimatesare given in the technical notes] 

!11 activity


Selected characteristic statuses Working Recreation Traveling Other No major


and typesl activity


Percent distribution


All episodes 100.0 25.7 16.0 17.5 32.5 8.3 

Sex 

Male 100.0 32.2 21.6 14.4 25.3 

Female 100.0 18.2 9.6 21.2 40.7 

Age
 -


Under 17 years 100.0 24.3 14.8 47.8 7.6


17-44 years 100.0 3::: 16.0 15.2 23.6


45-64 years 100.0 39.1 *3.13 22.2 25.8 U
 - 65 years and over 100.0 20.1 Jm. 39.0 25.6 15.3 

Family income


� 

Less than $5,000----------------- 100.0 25.5 19.3 36.2 9.2 

$5,000-$9,999-------------------- 100.0 23.0 19.0 32.8 8.8 

$10,000 -$14,999 100.0 29.5 15.3 14.3 33.4 7.6 

$15,000-$24,999------------------ 100.0 22.6 18.6 18.2 32.7 7.9 

$25,000 or more 100.0 30.4 25.6 13.2 24.4 *6.4 

Not reported 100.0 27.7 +.7 23.4 28.4 *1O .7 

Geo!zraDhic rezi.on 

Northeast 100.0 20.3 18.3 17.5 34.7 9.1


North Central 100.0 27.4 16.9 17.7 31.2 6.7


South---------------------------- 100.0 31.6 13.0 16.2 31.9


West 100.0 21.2 16.6 19.0 32.6 1:::


Place of residence


SMSA, central city 100.0 23.0 15.7 16.7 35.3 9.2 

SMSA, not central city 100.0 25.4 17.4 16.2 32.8 8.2 

Outside SMSA 100.0 28.8 14.5 20.1 29.2 7.5 

Days of restricted activitv 

None----------’ 100.0 26.3 15.2 15.4 35.3 

1 or more 100.0 25.3 16.5 18.8 30.7 

Bed days


None 100.0 26.5 16.8 16.4 32.6 

1 or more 100.0 23.2 13.5 21.1 32.0 

Medical attention


Attended at emergency room 100.0 27.7 16.6 22.8 24.3 8.6 

Attended, but not at emergency 

room 100.0 26.5 13.0 14.4 38.7 7.4 

Attended, place unknown 

Not medically attended 

100.0 

100.0 

23.5 

21.5 

*7,9 

21.8 

*18 .1 

15.0 

42.9 

32.2 

*7.5 

9.5 

lExcludes activity unknowo or not specified. 

*Nsmbers preceded by an asterisk have a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; estimates given solely for combining with other cells. o 
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� 

6 ackincedata 

Table 5. Number and percent distributionofepisodes of persons injured aged 17 years and over by wheth. 

er person was at job or business when accident happened, according to selected characteristic% United 

States, 1975 

[Data are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. The survey desiin, general qualifications, and information on the 

reliability of the estimates are given in the technical notes] 

11 1 1 I 

Not at Not at Al 1 At job or job or All At job or Selected characteristic job or episode+ business business 

Unknom episodesl business business 

Number of episodes in thousands Percent distribution


All episodes 48,256 11,411 34,409 2,43: 100.( 24.9 75.1 

Sex


Male----------------------- 23,843 8,796 14,312 735 100.( 38.1 61.9


Female--------------------- 24,413 2,615 20,097 1,70C 100.( 11.5 88.5


Age


17-44 years 

45-64 years---------------- 65 years and over----------

323757 

10,796 

4,703 

8,828 

2,364 

*220 

22,323 

7,887 

4,199 

1,606 

*545 

*284 

100.( 

100.( 

100.( 

28.3 

23.1 

*5.O 

71.7 

76..9 

95.0 

Family income 

Less than $5,000-----------

$5,000-$9,999--------------

8,884 

10,928 

1,527 

3,001 

6,725 

7,344 

633 

*583 

100.( 

100.[ 

18.5 

29.0 

81.5 

71.0 

$10,000-$14,999------------ 10,139 2,911 6,568 660 100.C 30.7 69.3 

$15,000-$24,999------------

$25,000 or more------------ 10,97,1 

4,180 

2,324 

657 

;,;;: +<514 

9<-

100.C 

100.C 

22.2 

15.7 

77.8 

84.3 

Not reported---------?----- 3,153 992 2:116 *44 100.c 31.9 68.1 

Geographic region @ 

Northeast 9,606 2,005 6,789 812 100.C 22.8 77.2


North Central-------------- 12,853 3,064 9,050 739 100.C 25.3 74.7


South 14,288 4,050 9,715 *524 100.c 29.4 70.6


West----------------------- 11,509 2,293 8,856 *360 100.c 20.6 79.4


Place of residence


SMSA, central ci.ty 14,519 3,123 10,680 716 100.0 22.6 77.4 

SMSA? not central city 18,893 4,380 13,430 1,083 100,0 24.6 75..4 

Outside SMSA --------------- 14,844 3,909 10,300 635 100,0 27.5 72.5 

Days of restricted


actlvlty


None----------------------- 17,326 4,453 11,633 1,240 100.0 27.7 72.3 

1 or more 30,929 6,958 22,776 1,195 100.0 23.4 76.6 

Bed days 

None----------------------- 1 or more------------------ 35,508 

12,747 

:,:;: 

Y 

25,046 

9,363 

1,880 

3<555 

100.0 

100.0 

25.5 

23.2 

74.5 

76.8 

Medical attention


Attended at emergency


Not 

room---------------------- 15,444 4,150 10,964 *330 100.0 27.5 72.5 

Attended, but not at 

emergency room------------ Attended, place unknown----

1:,;;; 5,168 

?<435 

13,135 

1,262 

l$:;; 100.0 

100.0 

28.2 

*25.6 

71.8 

74.4 

___i medically attended 11:250 1,659 1 9,048 *543 100.0 15.5 84.5 

lE~cludes unknown if at job or bus less when accident happened.


>?Numberspreceded by an asterisk have a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; :stimates


given solely for combining with other cells.

ackmeMa7 

table 3 for persons 17 years and over who were 

doing some type of work when the episode occurred, about 11.4 million occurred while the 

person was working at his or her job or business. 

These 11.4 million episodes constitute about 

23.6 percent of all of the episodes for this age 

group. 

Respondents who reported medical attention of accidental injuries were asked: “Where 

did. . . FIRST see or talk ~to a doctor–at a 

clinic, hospital, doctor’s office, or some other 

place?” Table 6 shows the number and percent 

distribution of all episodes of persons injured by 

whether or not the injury or injuries were medically attended and, if so, where medical attention was first received. It should be reemphasized that these data do not include episodes in 

which the injuries were not medically attended 

or did not cause the person to restrict his or her 

activity for 1 day or more. As may be noted 

from table 6, 78.0 percent of the episodes resulted in some form of medical attention, while 

22.0 percent led to restricted activity but did 

not involve medical attention. 

This proportion between medically attended 

episodes and those not medicaIly attended differs from the proportions usuaIly derived from 

the annual HeaIth Interview Survey. Ordinarily, 

the proportions are about 84 percent medically 

attended and 16 percent not medicaJly attended. 

The difference probably reflects the influence of 

the supplemental injury probe, which tended to 

screen in additional relatively minor types of injuries which did not require medical attention. 

Of all medically attended episodes, 41.3 percent were first treated at a hospital emergency 

room, 33.9 percent at a doctor’s office, and 24.8 

percent at other places (“other places” includes 

telephone calls to a medical doctor). Of the estimated 25.2 miIlion episodes that were ever 

treated at a hospital emergency room, 92.5 percent (23.3 million) were first treated there, 

whiIe 7.4 percent followed a previous contact 

with a medical person. When use of a hospital 

emergency room is viewed in relation to all episodes, whether or not they were medically 

treated, 32.0 percent were first treated at a hospital emergency room and 34.8 percent were 

treated there at one time or another. All of these 

percents exclude the episodes for which the 

place of first medical attention was unknown. 

Data on product involvement in episodes of 

persons injured were obtained in response to the 

following two questions: “What product or object came into contact with . . . and actually 

caused the injury?” and ‘What other products 

or objects were involved in the accident?” In 

interpreting the estimates of product involvement, based on responses to these questions, it 

should be noted that the data do not in any way 

indicate whether or not any defect or property 

of the design of the product was responsible for 

the accident. 

The data on type of product involvement in 

accidental injuries was coded according to the 

coding system used in the National Electronic 

Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) of “theConsumer Product Safety Commission.5 The estimates shown in table 7 are based on the broad 

categories used in that system. The frequency of 

product involvement is based on the number of 

times a category of products was involved one or 

more times in an episode of accidental injury 

and not on the number of products involved in 

that episode. As such, the frequency is to some 

degree a function of the range of products used 

in any category, and because of this, totals for 

subgroups of a category will not usud.ly sum to 

the total for the entire category. 

Up to three types of products were coded 

for each of the two product-related questions. 

Thus any particukr episode might have from 

zero to six types of products involved. Of the 

approximately 74.2 million episodes of persons 

injured, about 56.3 miIlion involved at least one 

type of product. Using the broad categories of 

product types found in the NEISS coding system, the estimated 56.3 milIion episodes involved about 69.5 million instances of type of 

product involvement during 1975 (tabIe 8). 

Table 7 shows the percent of times the categories of product types were involved in episodes of persons injured for episodes among (1) 

all civilian noninstitutionalized persons, (2) 

males, (3) females, and episodes resulting in (4) 

1 day or more of restricted activity, and (5) a 

visit to a hospital emergency room. 

As an example of the way in which to interpret the estimates shown in table 7, the case of 

5See NEISS Coding Manual, U.S. Consumer Product 

Safety Commission, Bureau of Epidemiology. 
------------

---- -------

-------

---------

-----

-------------

--------

--------

---------

8


Table 6. Number and percent distributions of episodes of persons injured by whether medically attended and, if SO, place of first medical attention, according to selected characteristics: United States, 1975 

IIAM w. i,asud on Ihuus.h.kl inwrvicws of the civili.u no.i.scicutionalizcd popukwion. The survey dcsi~n, ~.ncr.i qualificmiwu, and in fownzcio,) m the rcliohility of the csci,mms arc giver in d,. 

Place of first medical
 Place of first medical attention attention


Not Not All medi- All medi- SelecLed All medi - epi­ Emer- Doc- cally epi- cally characteristic sodes tally gency tor’s Other J& at- odesl at- at- Of- tended tendee
 tended ‘oom
 fice
 epi­


sodes


* 

Number of episodes in thousands Percent distribution Percent distribution


All episOdes------ 74,164 57,855 23,252 L9,048 3,955 1,600 16,309 100.0 78.0 22.0 100.0 41.3 33.9 24.8 

.— 

~ 

Male-------------- 39,653 31,217 14,315 9,267 7,009 626 8,436 100.0 78.7 21.3 100.0 46.8 30.3 22.9 

Female 34,511 26,639 .9,938 9,782 6,946 973 7,873 100.0 77.2 22.8 100.0 34.8 3s.1 27.1 

Age 

Under 17 years 25,908 20,S49 8,954 6,390 5,149 *356 5,059 100.0 80.5 19.5 100.0 43.7 31.2 25.1 

17-44 years 32,757 25,048 10,193 7,750 6,266 840 7,709 100.0 76.5 23.5 100.0 42.1 32.0 25.9 

45-64 years 10,796 8,207 2,922 3,350 1,623 <,312 2>589 100.0 76.0 24.0 100.0 37.0 42.4 20.6 

65 years and over- 4,703 3,751 1,184 1,558 91s +91 952 100,0 79.8 20.2 100.0 32.3 42.6 25.1 

Family income


12,327 9,391 3,941 2,923 2,250 *277 2,936 100.0 76.2 23.8 100.0 43.2 32.1 24.7


16,531 12,664 5,400 3,917 2,942 $<4(36 3,867 100.0 76.6 23.4 100.0 44.0 32.0 24.0


16,660 13,937 5,075 4,535 3,881 9:446 2,723 100,0 ;9.~ 16.3 Loo.o 37.6 33.6 28.8


17,4s1 13,213 5,094 4,863 2,926 $<331 4,268 100.0 24.4 100.0 39.5 37.8 22.7


6,734 5,128 1,877 1,756 1,355 $’140 1,606 100.0 76;2 23.8 100.0 37.6 35.2 27.2


4,431 3,522 1,866 1,055 602 *- 909 100.0 79.5 20.5 100.0 53.0 30.0 17.1


Geographic regior


Northeast 15,677 12,809 6,070 3,049 3,376 *314 2,868 100.0 81.7 18.3 100.0 48.6 24.4 ;;.;


North Central 20,103 15,999 6,754 4,650 4,234 *362 4,104 100.0 79.6 20.4 100.0 43.2 ;;.:


South 21,605 16,564 6,647 6,057 3,407 *453 5,041 100.0 76.7 23.3 100.0 41.3 21:1


West-------------- 16,779 12,483 3,782 5,292 2,938 *470 4,296 100.0 74.4 25.6 100.0 31.5 44:1 24.5


Place of
 residence


SMSA, central 13 5,328 100.0 76.0 24.0 100.(1 43.7 29.1 27.3
 city------------- 22,215 16,887 7,147 4,760 4,467 #(5


SMSA, not central
 city------------- 29,482 23,435 9,423 7,529 5,881 602 6,047 100.0 79.5 20.5 100.0 41.3 33.0 25.8


Outside SMSA------ 22,467 17,533 6,683 6,759 3,607 9<484 4,934 100.0 78.0 22.0 100.0 39.2 39.6 21.2


,Med 

activity


None --------------

1 or mOre 28,442 

45,721 

28,442 

29,41J 

9,908 

13,344 

9,480 8,228 

9,568 5,727 

826 ... 

773 16,309 

100.0 

100.0 

100.0 

64.3 ... 35.7 

100.0 

100.0 35.9 

46.6 

34.3 

33.4 

29.8 

20.0 

Bed days 

No~e----,--------

1 or mOre 

56,43C 

17,72t 

45,551 

12,304 

17,048 

6,204 

15,457 1,722 

3,592 2,233 

1,324 10,885 $<276 5,42Z 

100.0 

100.0 

80.7 

69.4 19.3 

30.6 

100.c 

100.0 

38.5 

51.6 

34.9 

29.9 26.5 

18.6 

Medical attentiol 

Attended at emergenty rOOm-- 25,22; 25,227 23,252 929 961 *84 ... 100:0 100.C ... 100.0 92.5 3.7 3.8 

Attended, but not at emergency ~~~~-..----_---- 29,93t 29,936 ... 17,657 2,234 ,?45 ... 100.0 100.( ... 100.0 ... 59.1 40.9 

Attended, place unknown 2,69; 2,692 ... $,461 760 1,471 ... 100.0 Loo.[ ... 100.0 ... :.37.8 62.2 

.1EXCludes unknown place first medical attention. ,?Nwbers preceded by an :eriskhave a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; esthates giVen s Olely for combining 

with other cells. 
--------------------------------

---------- --------------------

---------------------------- ----------------

---------

----------------------------------

--------------------------------------

--------------------

----------------

----------------

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--------------- -----------------------------

awmedab9 

Table 7. Number of episodes of persons injured by selected characteristics, percent of episodes of persons in­


jured by product type and selected characteristics; and direct product involvement as a percent of both direct


and indirect product involvement by product type: United States, 197S 

[Dam arebased on housclmldintcrvimvs of the civihn noninstitutiormlimd population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of the 

estimates arc given in the tecMIcal notes] 

Direct and indirect product involvement among:


Episodes of persons injured and product type


Number of episodes in thousands


All episodes 74,164 }139,653 34,511/ 45,721I 25,227


Percent of episodes


Product typel


General household appliances (0101-0132) *ooj *0.4 *1. O *0.7 *0.3 

Kitchen appliances (0202-0262) 1.C *0.7 *1.4 *0.9 *1.O 

Space heating, cooling, and ventilating
 appliances
 (0301-0355) *0.3 *1.3 *0.8


Direct


product 

inv0 lvement 

as a
 percent of


both direct


and indirect


involvement


. . . 

*73 .0
 *59.5


*66.7


80.9


*47.9


63.4


*48.4


67.9


70.6


*66.5


62.0


Housewares, nonpowered (0401-0459)


Home comnunica tions, entertainment, and hobby


equipment (0501-0542)----------------------------


Home furnishings and fixtures (0601-0697)
 Home alarm, escape, and protection devices


(O7Ol-O7O8)--------------------------------------


Home workshop apparatus, tools, and attachments


(O8Ol-O853)--------------------------------------
 � Home and family maintenance products


(O9O2-O95O)--------------------------------------


Farm supplies and equipment (1001-1051)-----------


Packages and containers for household products


(llol-ll22)--------------------------------------


Sports and recreational equipment (1201-1299;
 32OO-32O9)--------------------------------------- TOYS (L301-L383) Yard and garden equipment (140L-1440 )-------------

Child nursery equipment and supplies 

(1502-1541)


Personal use items (1601-1656)


Miscellaneous products (1701-1726)


Home structures and construction materials


(l8O3-l86O)--------------------------------------


Motor vehicles (1901)-----------------------------
 Foods (1904)--------------------------------------


Prescribed drugs (1920-1922; 1924)


Industrial equipment, not used at work (2200)-----


Medical equipment (2400-2465)


Other products in the 1901-2465 range


(1902-1903; 1905-1918; 1923; 2300)


Cosmetics (2500-2700)


;:: R 4.1 3.3 4.1 

1::: *1.O 

9.4 

*0.8 

11.7 

*0.9 

10.8 

*0.9 

10.6 

*oal *0.2 *- -2- *0.2 

3.4 5.9 *0.4 3.6 4.3 

1.9 *1.1 1.4 *2.2 ::; *1.4 *0.3 *1.1 *1.1 

2.8 2.8 2.8 2.9 2.8 

14.1 19.2 8.2 14.6 ?.7.3 37.3 

0.9 w. 5 *0.3 *0.9 *1.8 *40.O 

1.9 3.1 *0.5 2.2 *2.2 74.7 

*0,5 *0.5 .*O.6 *0.3 *54.5 

4,4 6.0 4.8 3?; 70.6 

1.3 *;:: *1.4 1.7 *1.1 *56.7 

20.6 21.6 19.4 18.9 24.5 80.9 

9.6 9.1 10.1 9.6 13.9 62.8 3.7 2.3 ;-: 3.0 49.7 

7.0 2.9 1?:? *1.9 99.0 

1.2 2.0 *0.3 1:2 *1.3 *52.7 *0.2 7:0.7. *0.1 *0.1 -k- *loo.o 

*1.O 1.7 *2.O 70.1 J; *::: *1.3 *0.5 *- *89.6 

‘The numbers in parentheses represent the code range for the types of products specified in the National Elec­
 tronic Injury Surveillance System coding manual.
 *Numbers preceded by an asterisk have a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; estimates given solely


for combining with other cells.


“housewares” may be used. Housewares were in- respectively. AU of these estimates include both 

volved in 3.2 percent of alI episodes of persons direct and indirect product involvement in the 

injured. Among those episodes occurring to accidental injury. The last coIumn of tabIe 7 

males, they were involved 2.4 percent of the shows that of all the times housewares were intime and for females 4.1 percent. For all epi- volved, the involvement was the direct “cause” 

sodes resulting in 1 or more days of restricted of the injury in 80.9 percent of the cases. 

ctivity or in a visit to a hospital, housewares The large number of relatively unreliable eswere involved 3.3 and 4.1 percent of the time, timates shown in table 7 indicates that the pro- e 
------------------------------

----

-----------------------------------------

---------------------------

--------------

----------------

----------------

------------------

--------------------------

---------------------------

---------

---------------------------

----------------------

� 

� 

10


Table 8. Number of episodes of persons injured, number of episodes of persons injured involving one or more product types, and num-


ber of instances product type involved in episodes of persons injured by selected characteristics:United States, 1975


IDamam based on h.uschold incervi.ws of k civilian noninstic.cionalizcd population. Tbe survey design, general q.alificacions, and information on tbc reliability of cbe cscimmcs arc given 

in chc t.ch. ical .otcsl 

All Resulting in 1 or more Resultingin a visit
 Item persons Male Fema1e days of restricted to an emergency room
 activity


I Number in thousands


Episodes of persons injured 74,164 39,653 34,511 45,721 25,227


Episodes of persons injured involving 1 or more product
 types T---------------------------------------------- 56,302 30,822 25,481 34,952 20,140


Number of Instances product type involved in episodes of
 persons injured 69,502 38,432 31,070 43,182 25,h77


Table 9. Percent distribution of times a type of product was involved in episodes of persons injured by selected
 characteristics, according to type of product: United States, 1975


[Dataarcbawdonhousehold interviews of the civilian noninstitucionalized population. Th. survey design, general q.alificatiom, a“d information on th. reliability of ZIIC cszimates 

arc given in thetechnical “otcsl 

I Home Home Pack- I Motor Home work - ages strut- vehiHouse- fur- ahop and con- Sgydts Per- tures cles Pre- and #ares, nish- appar- tainers recre- sona1 cOn- (in- scribed Selected characteristic r.OnpOw- ings atus, for ational use struc- cluding Foods medi­ and tools, h~l; - equip- items tion ered vehi- tines
 fix - and
 cle
 tures attach- I ments products 

ment mate- parts) rials 

Percent distribution


All episodesl------------- 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 � — 

Sex 4 Male *39.9 48.1 94.3 52.7 72.9~ 36.0 56.1 50.7 :3.; 22.4 

Female------------------------- 60.0 51.9 *5.6 47.3 27.1 64.0 43.9 49,3 77.6 

~ I 

Under 17 years----------------- *19.O 34.8 *11.7 29.2 60.9~ 43.1 36.4 17.9 *17.3 29.1 17-44 years-------------------- 60.4 33.7 70.4 57.1 34.81 41.3 34.5 57.9 53.5 48.6 45 years and over-------------- *20.5 31.6 *17.9 *13.7 *4.3 *15.6 29.1 24.1 29.3 22.3 

Family incomez 

Less than $10,000 50.5 53.5 44.5 41.8 32.81 45.7 44.2 38.5 38.4 50.6
 $10,000-$14,999 *20.8 21.9 25.2 *16.7 22.0’ *18.7 24.5 19.5 31.6 26.8


$15,000 or more 28.7 24.6 30.3 41.5 45.3 35.6 31.3 42.0 30.0 22.6


Geographic region


Northeast---------------------- *18.O 19.5 28.9 *23.9 22.0 15.5 19.2 13.8 ~14.7 21.1


North Central *23.1 21.9 *24.0 *25.O 34.4 29.9 31.6 27.2 ~19.6 25.5


South 47.0 39.3 28.4 *27.3 22.5 27.4 28.0 35.8 ;;.: 27.6


West 11.9 19.2 *18.7 *23.8 21.1 27.3 21.2 23.2 25.8


Place of residence


SMSA, central city------------- *23.9 36.8 24.3 *26.6 28.0 36.2 32.0 29.9 25.2 40.4
 SNSA, not central city 35.9 27.6 39.2 43.2 42.2 35.7 36.6 44.1 34.3 35.3
 Outside SMSA----.-------------- 40.2 35.5 36.4 30.2 29.8 28.0 31.4 25.9 40.5 24.3


Days of restricted activity


None 35.6 36.5 33.3 35.6 36.3 :;.; 43.4 38.2 39.2 35.7 

1 or more 64.4 63.5 66.7 64.4 63.7 56.6 61.8 60.8 64.3 

Place treated3 

Emergency room----------------- 54.0 45.7 53.4 43.4 57.2 42.7 52.9 61.6 40.9 *12. 9 

Not at emergency room---------- 46.1 54.3 46.6 56.6 42.8 57.3 47.1 38.4 59.0 87.1 

‘Includes unknown family income, injuries not medically attended, and unknown place of medical attention.


2EXCludes unknown family income.
 3Excludes episodes not medically attended and unknown if person visited an emergency room.


*Numbers preceded by an aaterisk have a relative standard error of more than 30 percent; estimates given solely for


combining with other cells.

. . .

. . .

. .

. .

. . . .

. . . . .

. . .

. .

.

. . .

.

.

.. .

.

.

.

.

.

. . ..

.

dmceckh 11 

duct involvement categories produced too few 

sample cases, based on a 2-week reference 

period, for extensive cross-classification of the 

data. TabIe 9 shows percent distributions according to the ku-ger product groups and a reduced set of variables. A more inclusive list of 

product types and a more extensive cross-classikcation of_ variables would produce a table ineluding relatively unrefinableestimates. 

TECHNICAL 

The estimates shown in this report are based 

on data obtained in household interviews in a 

continuing nationwide survey. Each week a 

probability sample of households is interviewed 

by personnel of the U.S. Bureau of the Census 

to obtain information about the health and 

other characteristics of each member of the 

household in the civilian noninstitutionalized 

population of the United States. During 1975 

there were about 40,000 interviewed households 

containing about 116,000 persons. 

The appendixes of the 1975 Current Estimates (Series 10, No. 115) should be consulted 

Table 1. Standard errors of estimates of aggregates 

8ize of estimate Standard error 

in thousands in thousands 

100 ....................................... 73


300 .......................................... 126


600 ....................................... 178


1,000..................................... 230


5,000 ..................................... 519


10,000 ................................. 741


20,000 ................................ 1,067


30,000 .................................. 1,331


40,000................................... 1,!563


50,000.................................... 1,777


60,000 .................................. 1,978


70,000 .................................... 2,170


At this writing, plans are underway to attempt a report on product involvement using all 

of the data from the 6-month reference period. 

WMe such a procedure would reduce the variances of the estimates, it will tend to underestimate the true number of times various product 

types were invoIved in episodes of persons inju~ed because of the large-memory d~cay associated with a 6-month reference period. 

NOTES 

for a more detailed discussion of the sample design (appendix I), definitions of certain terms 

used in the report (appendix II), and the questionnaire used during 1975 (excluding the accident supplement) (appendix HI). 

As noted above, the estimates shown in this 

report are based on a sample of the population. 

The approximate standard errors of the estimates of episodes of persons injured are shown 

in table I; the approximate standard errors for 

the percents are shown in table II. 

Tabla II. Standard errors, expressed in percents, of estimated 

percentages 

Zsti mated percentage 

8ase of 

percentage 

in thousands 2 or 5 or 10or 20 or 50 98 95 90 80 

100 .................. 10.2 15.8 21.8 29.1 36.3 

300 ................. 5.9 9.1 12.6 16.8 21.0 

600 .................. 4.2 6.5 8.9 11.9 14.8 

1,000 ............ 3.2 5.0 6.9 9.2 11.5 

5,000 .............. 1.4 2.2 3.1 4.1 5.1 

10,000 ............ 1.0 1.6 2.2 2.9 3.6 

20,000 ............ 0.7 1.1 1.5 2,1 2.6 

30,000 ............ 0.6 0.9 1.3 1.7 2.1 

40,000 ............ 0.5 0.8 1.1 1.5 1.8 

50,000 ......... 0.5 0.7 1.0 1.3 1.6 

60,000 ............ 0.4 0.6 0.9 1.2 1.5 

70,000 ............. 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.4 
--------------------------------------- ---

---------------------------

------------------------------------------

------

---------------------------

12 ‘achancedata


SYMBOLS 

Data not available 

Category not applicable 

Quantity zero 

Quantity more than O but less than 0.05 

Figure does not meet standards of 

reliability y or precision 

. . . 

0.0 

* 

Recent Issues of Aduance Data 

No. 17.	 Medical Care Sources and Problems in the 

United States, 1974 (Issued: February 23, 1978) 

No. 16.	 Ambulatory Medical Care Rendered in Internists’ Offices in the United States, JanuaryDecember 1975 (Issued: February 7, 1978) 

No. 15.	 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey of 

Vistis to General and Family Practitioners, 

January-December 1975 (Issued: December 14, 

1977) 

A complete list of Advance Data From the Vital 

Technical Information Branch. 

NCHS 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EOUCATION, ANO WELFARE


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National Center for Health Ststisticr


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From Vital and Health Statistics 

No. 14.	 Weight by Height and Age of Adults 18-74 

Years in the United States in 1971-74 (Issued: 

November 30, 1977) 

No. 13.	 Ambulatory Medical Care Rendered in Pediatricians’ Offices in the United States, 1975 

(Issued: October 13, 1977) 

and Health ,3tat&~cs is available from the Scientific and 

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