Here’s Where Danger Lurks

Ten lesser-known facts about America’s health from the Coalition for Consumer Health and Safety status report:

* More women than men die from heart attacks.

* Asthma is the leading cause of absenteeism in schools.

* Dangerous drinking water resulted in 1,400 “boil water alerts” in 28 states last year.

* Falls are the No. 1 reason children end up in the emergency room.

* Seat belt laws are rarely enforced, and millions regularly ride unbuckled.

* An estimated 1,000 deaths annually are associated with influenza related to indoor air.

* The risk of food-borne illness is increasing as bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella become more resistant to standard processing techniques.

* In a survey of high school seniors, 28% reported they had consumed five or more drinks at one sitting in the two-week period prior to the survey.

* More than a million children and teenagers start smoking each year.

* Alcohol use--more than any other factor--is responsible for an increase in pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infections among youth.