Injuries caused by car crashes, fires, falls, poisonings and other unintentional causes were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-24 in 1998.
Unintentional injuries are the fifth leading cause of death in America for all age groups.
Of these injuries, a fatality occurs every 6 minutes, according to the report. Heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the leading causes of death in America. The report is based on the 1999 edition of Injury Facts , the Council s 79th annual report on the country s safety and health. Just because an injury is unintentional does not mean it cannot be prevented. All Americans can take steps to reduce the risk of injury to themselves and their families.