A new report released today by SMARTRISK reveals the true cost of injuries in British Columbia

The Economic Burden of Injury in Canada was released today. The BC chapter of the report was prepared in partnership with The Community Against Preventable Injuries (The Community) and The BC Injury Research & Prevention Unit (BCIRPU).

Preventable injuries cost each person in BC $665 per year (based on 2004 data).

The direct (health care) cost is $1.6B and the indirect cost is $1.2B for a total of $2.8B.

The Community focuses on preventable injuries which account for 81% of the total injury cost = $2.3B

It’s not just about the money – the real issue is the human cost:

In 2004, 1,620 British Columbians lost their lives to injury and 9,900 were permanently disabled. Thousands more were indirectly affected when their loved ones were hurt, permanently disabled or killed.

To read the full report visit the What’s New section of: www.injuryresearch.bc.ca

Preventable injuries remain the leading cause of death for those aged one to 44, and are still one of the largest cost contributors to our healthcare system.