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Researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health have utilized Emergency Medical Services (EMS) data to compare the national burden of pedestrian injuries from motor vehicles to those from pedestrian falls on streets and sidewalks. The study finds that while the probability of severe injury is higher for motor vehicle collisions, the public health burden of pedestrians injured from falls is significantly greater. This is especially true for individuals aged 50 and older, emphasizing the need for outdoor falls prevention measures.
The study, published in the Journal of Urban Health, sheds light on the critical issue of pedestrian falls, an often understudied cause of morbidity. The research analyzes EMS response records, identifying 118,520 pedestrian falls and 33,915 pedestrians-motor vehicle collisions. Notably, older pedestrians experiencing falls requiring EMS responses were found to have critical and life-threatening injuries, indicating the need for increased focus on falls prevention, especially in urban spaces.
Professor Andrew Rundle from Columbia Mailman School notes, “The population burden of injurious pedestrian falls is greater than that from pedestrians injured by motor vehicles and justifies an increased focus on outdoor falls prevention.” The study recommends prioritizing interventions in high-risk areas, creating age-friendly urban environments, and developing surveillance systems to monitor pedestrian falls on sidewalks.
Note: The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive falls prevention programs, focusing on the specific risks associated with pedestrian falls on streets and sidewalks.
