University Presentation Showcase: Undergraduate Division
Ladder Mortality Rates from 1999 to 2023 in the United States
Presenter Hometown
Richmond
Major
Environmental Health Science and Substaniality
Department
Environmental Health Science
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Jason Marion
Mentor Department
Environmental Health Science
Recommended Citation
Spears, Mason; Holbrook, Rylan M.; and Jeffries, Emily, "Ladder Mortality Rates from 1999 to 2023 in the United States" (2025). University Presentation Showcase Event. 41.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2025/undergraduate/41
Abstract
Ladder mortality is a constant in the modern world, which seems odd for an era so technologically advanced compared to most of human history. The unsafe use of these helpful tools has led to countless accidents, many of which leading to death. Most of the accidents appear among residential instead of commercial, while those over the age of sixty are the most susceptible to being involved in an accident potentially leading to death. For assessing ladder mortality data in the U.S., data were downloaded from CDC WONDER using the ICD-10 code, W11 for ladder mortality. Using data, we confirmed age-related effects and also observed with those that are at a higher risk are overwhelmingly male, with the data showing about 20 to 30 ladder deaths per 10 million for males in the U.S. versus approximately 3 per 10 million for females. Region is an aspect also with a visible difference, with the northeastern part of the United States being about 11 to 14 per 10 million while the rest of the country showing 14 to 19 per 10 million. In order to avoid falling once balance has been lost, one must use their upper and lower body strength, leading to another disadvantage among the older population with ladders. One final point, the data show ladder mortality has risen over the last 24 years, which means there need to be interventions to address this growing problem impacting the U.S. population.
Presentation format
Poster
Ladder Mortality Rates from 1999 to 2023 in the United States
Ladder mortality is a constant in the modern world, which seems odd for an era so technologically advanced compared to most of human history. The unsafe use of these helpful tools has led to countless accidents, many of which leading to death. Most of the accidents appear among residential instead of commercial, while those over the age of sixty are the most susceptible to being involved in an accident potentially leading to death. For assessing ladder mortality data in the U.S., data were downloaded from CDC WONDER using the ICD-10 code, W11 for ladder mortality. Using data, we confirmed age-related effects and also observed with those that are at a higher risk are overwhelmingly male, with the data showing about 20 to 30 ladder deaths per 10 million for males in the U.S. versus approximately 3 per 10 million for females. Region is an aspect also with a visible difference, with the northeastern part of the United States being about 11 to 14 per 10 million while the rest of the country showing 14 to 19 per 10 million. In order to avoid falling once balance has been lost, one must use their upper and lower body strength, leading to another disadvantage among the older population with ladders. One final point, the data show ladder mortality has risen over the last 24 years, which means there need to be interventions to address this growing problem impacting the U.S. population.
