Unintentional injury is a global public health problem. In 1990, an estimated 5 million people worldwide died as a result of an injury or poisoning. This accounted for 10% of deaths from all causes that year, and over half of the estimated 900 million years of life lost in 1990 due to premature death. Although mortality rates for ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and cancer are higher, the majority of people dying of these causes are elderly, with far fewer potential years of life to live. Reasons for the increasing public health importance of injury include the decline of infectious disease, the processes of urbanization, industrialization, motorization, and increased opportunities to travel.