Conn. Ranks #5 in Injury-Related Death Prevention

A report released last month by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed that Connecticut has the fifth-lowest rate of injury-related deaths in the U.S., according to the Stamford Advocate.

While the national average of injury-related deaths is 57.9 per 100,000 people, Connecticut's rate is 47.9 per 100,000 people. New Jersey came in at the top of the list, followed by New York, Massachusetts and California. New Mexico was reported to have the highest rate of injury-related deaths. 

Out of the list of recommendations the organizations made for states to improve their rate, Connecticut has established laws requiring s and ignition interlocks law for convicted drunken drivers. Other recommendations on the list include requiring boosters seats for children up until the age of 8 and establishing a motorcycle helmet law, which Connecticut hasn't done. (The state does, however, require children until the age of 7 to sit in booster seats until they weigh over 60 lbs.)

According to the Advocate, the state's total lifetime medical costs due to fatal injury were $16.3 million over the past year.