Wisconsin Department of Health Services Report Finds Falls are a Leading Cause of Injury and Death in the State

Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

A new report from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) finds that falls are a leading cause of injury and death in Wisconsin.

The report, EMS and Falls in Wisconsin, shows that, in 2022, emergency medical services (EMS) providers responded to over 130,000 falls across the state, the top injury they responded to.

“This data provides unique insight into where and why falls are occurring, and sheds light on where resources are needed most,” says State Health Officer Paula Tran. “Today, the number of falls Wisconsin EMS providers respond to continues to increase at an accelerated pace. As Wisconsin’s population ages, preventing falls needs to be prioritized to support the health and independence of Wisconsinites statewide, and to reduce the impact of falls on Wisconsin’s EMS and health care systems.”

The report highlights data submitted to the Wisconsin Ambulance Run Data System (WARDS) and the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) by EMS providers across the state.

EMS providers responded to 25,055 more falls in 2022 than in 2019. The number of falls EMS responds to are increasing by nearly 10,000 a year statewide, with an average increase of 7.4% a year since 2019.

Falls made up 18% of 911-related ambulance runs in 2022. Private residences are the most common place that EMS responds to falls or fall-related injuries. Over four years, falls in private residences increased by about 5,000 falls a year, an average increase of 7.3% each year.

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