Accidents Are Leading Cause Of Death in Young Americans.

Injuries caused by car crashes, fires, falls, poisonings and other unintentional causes were the leading cause of death among young people ages 1 to 24 in the United States in 1998.

Unintentional injuries are the fifth-leading cause of death in America for all age groups. According to the Report on Injuries released by the National Safety Council, 92,200 people died of injuries in 1998.

Disabling injuries from unintentional causes reached 19.4 million in 1998--that amounts to an average of one disabling injury every six 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. We know when, where and how unintentional injuries happen--they are predictable and preventable," said Jerry Scannell, president of the National Safety Council.

Medical expenses, property damage, employer costs, fire losses and other expenses related to unintentional injuries cost Americans an estimated $480.5 billion each year. The cost is equivalent to 59 cents of every dollar spent on food in America in 1998.

The leading causes of injury-related deaths in America are motor vehicle crashes, followed by falls, poisonings, drownings and fires and burns, according to the report. To focus the country's injury-prevention effort, the council gives specific recommendations to reduce fatal and disabling injuries on the highway, at work, at home and in the community.

National Safety Council Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Unintentional Injuries includes strengthening safety-belt laws nationwide to reduce traffic fatalities.