The Medical Costs of Childhood Injuries: Emergency Department Visits

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In 2015, the total medical costs of injury-related emergency department (ED) visits of children age 19 and younger was $18.3 billion. This infographic breaks out the medical cost of emergency department visits of children by injury topic.

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This is part of a series on the costs of childhood injuries.

Additional infographics on the medical costs of childhood injuries:

Blog post

Fact sheet

 

The Medical Costs of Childhood Injuries: Emergency Department Visits

In 2015, the total medical costs of injury-related emergency department (ED) visits of children age 19 and younger was $18.3 billion

These costs include the initial ED visit, expenses for emergency transport, follow-up visits (ED, outpatient, or physician), medication, and insurance and claims administration expenses

The injuries below represent $12.5 billion of the total medical costs of injury-related ED visits

 

Cost

Falls* (ages 0-19)

$6.3 billion

Struck By/Against*[1] (ages 0-19)

$3.9 billion

Assault (ages 0-19)

$677.0 million

Teen Occupant*[2] (ages 15-19)

$597.3 million

Child Occupant* (ages 0-14)

$364.6 million

Poisoning* (ages 0-19)

$226.2 million

Fire/Burn* (ages 0-19)

$210.4 million

Self-Harm (ages 10-19)

$101.9 million

Drowning* (ages 0-19)

$9.1 million

Source: CDC WISQARS. Available from: www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars. 2015 Data. All costs are in 2015 dollars.

 

*Indicates injuries were unintentional

[1] Struck by/against is defined as injuries caused by striking (hitting) by or against a human, animal, or inanimate object or force other than a vehicle or machinery

[2] Teen occupant includes teen drivers and passengers