Pedestrian and bicyclist injuries occurred most frequently in congested downtown areas of San Francisco. The elderly were at highest risk of motor vehicle death and hospitalization, followed by 15-24 year olds. Both young children and the elderly were at high risk of pedestrian injury. Focus on Falls Falls, both intentional and unintentional, are a major health concern for San Franciscans. Falls were the third leading cause of injury death and the leading cause of injury hospitalization in 1996.
Advanced age is a risk factor for falls leading to death or hospitalization.
Hospitalization rates soared after age 60, especially for women. Women age 100 and older had a hospitalization rate of nearly 12,000 per 100,000 population. In contrast to deaths, there were 13 infants and toddlers under two years of age were hospitalized for burns, almost all from scalds. Young Black males were the most frequent homicide victims and had homicide rates far in excess of all other age and race groups. The most commonly used weapon in 1996 homicides of San Franciscans was a firearm.