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N.M. injury-death rate triple that of N.J.

PRINCETON, N.J., June 8 (UPI) -- New Mexico and Montana have the highest rates of injury-related deaths, about three times higher than those of New Jersey and New York, a non-profit group says.

The Facts Hurt, a report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found about 50 million Americans are medically treated for injuries each year, and more than 2.8 million are hospitalized. Nearly 12,000 children and teens die from injuries resulting from accidents each year and about 9.2 million are treated in emergency rooms.

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Injuries annually generate $406 billion in lifetime costs for medical care and lost productivity, the report said.

"There are proven, evidence-based strategies that can spare millions of Americans from injuries each year," Jeff Levi executive director of Trust for America's Health.

Many injury prevention activities have been scientifically shown to reduce harm and deaths, for instance:

-- Seat belts saved an estimated 69,000 lives from 2006 to 2010.

-- Motorcycle helmets saved an estimated 8,000 lives from 2005 to 2009.

-- Child safety seats saved around 1,800 lives from 2005 to 2009.

-- The number of children and teens killed in motor vehicle crashes dropped 41 percent from 2000 to 2009.

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The report identified a set of emerging new injury threats, including prescription drug abuse, concussions in school sports, bullying, crashes from texting while driving and an expected increase in falls by baby boomers.

Rates include all injury deaths from 2007 to 2009 for all ages, for injuries caused by accidents and violence -- intentional and unintentional. The numbers are based on how many deaths per 100,000 people.

1. New Mexico 97.8 per 100,000.

2. Montana 86.5.

3. Alaska 85.8.

4. Wyoming 84.7.

5. Mississippi 84.3.

6. Oklahoma 83.

7. West Virginia 82.2.

8. Louisiana 80.1.

9. Arkansas 76.9.

10. (tie) Alabama and Kentucky 76.5.

12. Tennessee 75.6.

13. South Carolina 71.7.

14. Nevada 71.3.

15. Arizona 70.7.

16. Missouri 70.2.

17. Colorado 67.8.

18. Florida 66.8.

19. North Carolina 66.

20. Idaho 65.3.

21. Utah 64.8.

22. Georgia 61.4.

23. Vermont 61.3.

24. Oregon 61.2.

25. North Dakota 61.6.

26. South Dakota 60.7.

27. (tie) Indiana and Kansas 60.4.

29. Washington, D.C. 60.2.

30. Pennsylvania 59.4.

31. (tie) Maine and Wisconsin 58.7.

33. Texas 58.5.

34. Washington 58.1.

35. Delaware 56.9.

36. Michigan 56.8.

37. Maryland 56.1

38. Ohio 55.9.

39. Virginia 53.4.

40. Iowa 52.5.

41. Nebraska 51.3.

42. Minnesota 51.2.

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43. Rhode Island 50.4.

44. New Hampshire 50.

45. Illinois 48.7.

46. Hawaii 48.3.

47. Connecticut 47.9.

48. California 47.6.

49. Massachusetts 41.1.

50. New York 37.1.

51. New Jersey 36.1.

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