Top Causes of Unintentional Injury Deaths in Central Florida

Unintentional injuries are one of the top five causes of death across Central Florida, according to the 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

The CHNA, a comprehensive report that is the result of a collaboration between several of the area’s top healthcare providers — including Orlando Health, also found that unintentional injury deaths are the only cause of death that has continued to increase across the four-county region. Other leading causes of death across Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties included cancer and heart disease. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), accidents and unintentional injuries cause nearly 136,000 deaths a year and are the fourth leading cause of death in the country. The statistics in Central Florida reflect a similar pattern. Here’s a county-by-county breakdown for traumatic deaths in the area.

Lake County

The number of unintentional injury deaths remained constant between 2008 to 2012 in the county, but increased in 2014.

In 2008, these deaths numbered 53.2 for every 100,000 people, but by 2014 this figure rose to 64.2 per 100,000 — nearly double the government’s Healthy People 2020 goal of about 36 deaths for every 100,000 people.

The top cause of unintentional injury deaths in the county was falls, which was the leading cause of death for those 65 and older. Falls, vehicle accidents and poisoning made up 74 percent of unintentional injury deaths in the county.

Orange County

In Orange County, unintentional injury deaths increased between 2012 and 2014. It was the third leading cause of death in the county behind cancer and heart disease, accounting for nearly 38 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014. This is slightly below the Healthy People 2020 goal of 36.4 deaths per 100,000.

Most fatal injuries in the county were classified as unintentional, and similar to Lake County, falls were the leading cause of unintentional death in Orange County. Vehicle accidents and poisoning also were responsible for these deaths, but falls and poisoning combined made up more than 55 percent of unintentional deaths in Orange County in 2013. 

Osceola County

Heart disease, cancer and chronic respiratory illness were the leading causes of death in Osceola County, while unintentional injury ranked fourth. The number of unintentional injury deaths in Osceola rose from 35.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2008 to 42.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2014, which also exceeded the Healthy People 2020 goals.

Falls were the leading cause of unintentional death in the county, along with vehicle accidents and poisoning. Falls and poisoning accounted for 51 percent of unintentional deaths in Osceola.

Seminole County

Unintentional injury deaths were the fifth leading cause of death in the county, accounting for 37.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2014. That figure is slightly above the Healthy People 2020 goal of 36.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Cancer and heart disease were the two leading causes of death in Seminole County.

Unlike the other counties, poisoning was the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in Seminole County, followed by falls, accounting for 59 percent of unintentional deaths. Poisoning, falls and vehicle accidents were the top three causes of unintentional death in the county.

Overall, the number of accidents has increased in Central Florida’s four-county region, largely driven by an increase in the number of deaths from drownings, falls, poisoning and vehicle accidents in the area. Falls are not only one of the leading causes of unintentional deaths in Florida, but have become an epidemic across the country. In addition, experts say people between the ages of 19 and 21 are more likely to die in vehicle accidents than any other group. Central Florida rotates as being number one and number two in the country for auto versus pedestrian accidents.

Unintentional deaths are just that — unexpected. But there are things you can do to be more safe. Our community has recognized our high number of auto versus pedestrian accidents and as a result, our trauma center has worked in collaboration with the organization Best Foot Forward. Along with Best Foot Forward, we try to raise awareness about the use of crosswalks, walking signs and make drivers more aware as well. In addition, the CDC’s website has helpful information on ways to prevent drowning, as well as tips to prevent poisoning. The National Institutes of Health’s Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases Resource Center also has information about how to prevent falls and fractures, which become more of a risk as you age.

If you’d like to learn more about community health needs in Central Florida, you can access the Community Health Needs Assessment on this page.