Press Release: Commission acts to reduce burden of accidents and injuries

The European Commission on 23 June 2006 adopted a Communication and Action Plan with the aim of reducing the burden of accidents and injuries, which were the fourth major cause of death in the EU, killing some 235,000 EU citizens each year. Accidents and injuries accounted for almost 7 million hospital admissions and for 20% of sick leave, and they were the leading cause of death in children and young people. The Communication on Actions for a Safer Europe made accident prevention a priority for the current and future Public Health Action Programmes (the EU’s funding mechanism to support projects in the Member States). It also called on Member States to work with the EU and to prioritise accident prevention through information campaigns and data collection.