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

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.