"...more than 5,000 deaths occur each year in crashes involving large trucks. In such crashes, other road users have especially high fatality rates: 84 percent of the deaths involve persons who were sharing the road with the large truck

"...truck drivers have the eighth highest occupational death rate among 347 occupations studied..."

"The geographic patterns vary for different types of crashes. For example, death rates from collisions with trains, which kill about 600 motor vehicle occupants annually, are highest in the central part of the United States. Most of these states have especially large numbers of rail-highway crossing on the same level (referred to as "at grade") with no protection other than warning or stop signs." (Pg 239-242)

"Among deaths from fires and burns, housefires cause 73 percent of all deaths and 80 percent of unintentional deaths.... Death rates are highest among young children and the elderly….

"Cigarettes, cited in 28 percent of the deaths, are the leading cause of fatal housefires, which are often started by smoldering cigarettes that ignite upholstered furniture or mattresses....

"Among both blacks and native Americans, housefire death rates are more than twice the rate for whites."

(Pg 162-163)

"Pedestrian deaths, the second largest category of motor vehicle deaths, include almost half of the traffic deaths for ages 3-9 and more than one-fourth for ages 75 or older. In 1988, almost 7,000 people were killed as pedestrians, representing about one-seventh of all traffic-related deaths."

"The speed of vehicles involved in pedestrian impacts is a major determinant of the severity and outcome of injury. This is reflected in the much higher ratio of deaths to injuries where speed limits are higher. The ration of deaths to injuries is about nine times as high where the speed limit is 55 mph as on roads where it is 30 mph or less." (Pgs 272 & 277)

Swift water rescue technician course

Drowning behavior, what it looks like and how to recognize it: Contrary to popular belief, a drowning swimmer usually will not call out or signal for help. Most reports of witnessed drownings indicate that the swimmer seemed to be actively "swimming" did not call for help, and then disappeared beneath the surface without a sound. Instead of calling for help or waving, a drowning person’s energy is focused on keeping their nose and mouth above the surface of the water and catching a breath. As they tire, their lower body begins to sink. This causes them to quickly assume the "Crucifix position" (body vertical in the water, arms extended straight out from the shoulders and rapidly pushing against the water, or "dog paddling" rapidly, head tilted back with nose and mouth the highest point above the surface.) They appear to be trying to literally crawl out of the water, straight into the air. This is a very inefficient way to maintain floatation. Once in this position, stricken by panic, the victim becomes solely preoccupied with keeping their mouth and nose in the air. Raising an arm to call for help causes their body to sink a bit, and yelling interferes with the act of snatching a breath when above the surface.

Most people in the United States are not aware of this drowning behavior (which is commonly seen in any pool area where weak young swimmers "dog paddle"). Rapid dog paddling with the body vertical and the mouth and nose barely out of the water is drowning behavior not rudimentary swimming! The public should be taught to recognize it.

The steady upsurge in suicide is an epidemic. It has replaced homicide as the leading cause of intentional injury death in the United States. Suicide tends to cluster; when a loved one commits suicide, the friends and family are at increased risk to commit suicide. People who have unsuccessfully attempted suicide are also at greatly increased risk of successfully completing the act in the future. Effective efforts to reduce suicide and suicidal behavior must address the problem at its source, focusing on the suicidal people themselves. The current system of mental health intervention works for people during the crisis by stopping their attempt, placing them in a safe environment and evaluating their mental status, but it often ignores them once their immediate crisis has passed. Suicidals are commonly back in their same situation within 72 hours with little or no follow up, angry, and determined not to fail on the next attempt. Outreach programs, crisis lines, and accessible peer support can help maintain contact with suicidal people and will help reduce the incidence of repeated attempts among this risk group.