Fatal falls: trends and characteristics.

Falls accounted for more than 14,000 deaths and 22 million visits to hospitals and physicians' offices in 1996. They are the second leading cause of unintentional-injury death for people of all ages and the leading cause for people 79 years old and older. Fall death rates increase steadily with age and the death rate for men is always greater than the rate for women. Homes and resident institutions are the two most commonly named places where fatal falls occur. Fall death rates by state show no particular geographical patterns. There has been a significant decline in both numbers of deaths and death rates due to falls over the past 50 years. The improvement in the death rate has been achieved in all age groups. From 1948 to 1996, the death rate in each age group decreased between 61 percent and 80 percent. The change is most evident in the 65 and older age group, whose rate dropped from 136.8 per 100,000 persons to 33.1. Possible reasons for the decline in death rates include specific programs, such as "Children Can't Fly," and workplace fall protection programs; general factors such as improved acute care, rehabilitation and nutrition, as well as long-term changes in environmental factors such as design of and materials for stairs, steps and handrails; improved materials for shoe soles; and improved floor finishes and floor coverings.