Hospitalizations for fall-related injuries among active-duty Army soldiers, 1980--1998

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Senier, Laura | Bell, Nicole S.^; | Yore, Michelle M. | Amoroso, Paul J.

Affiliations: SSDS, Inc., Eight Nonesuch Drive, Natick, MA 01760-1041, USA | Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA | US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 42 Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5007, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author: Tel.: +1 508 233 4847; E-mail: laura.senier@na.amedd.army.mil

Abstract: Data from the Total Army Injury and Health Outcomes Database (TAIHOD) were used to describe 28,352 fall-related hospitalizations among active-duty Army soldiers between 1980 and 1998. Soldiers who were younger than age 26, single, and had a high school education or less were at greatest risk. Falls from a height were more likely to be fatal than other types of falls, accounting for 88% was known, 64% and half of these occurred during training. The most common type of fall during training was fall from a height (37%) and ladders accounted for 49% research should include identification of specific behavioral and occupational risk factors for falls, particularly those occurring during training activities, and falls occurring off duty.

Keywords: accidental falls, Army, injuries and wounds, hospitalizations, database, military, free text

Journal: Work, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 161-170, 2002