NSC updates ‘Odds of Dying’
To kick off National Safety Month, the National Safety Council has released its annual Odds of Dying list, which uses fatality data for the entire U.S. population to explain the average person’s lifetime odds of dying from various causes.
The list includes the odds of the following fatal events:
- A motor vehicle crash (1 in 112 chance)
- Overdosing on opioid prescription painkillers (1 in 234)
- Walking down or crossing the street (1 in 704)
- Complications from surgical or medical care (1,532)
“Americans worry about the wrong things. For example, 865 times more people are killed in motor vehicle crashes than in commercial plane crashes,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. “Knowing the real odds of dying can empower people to make better choices and result in longer lives.”
Learn more about National Safety Month.