Updated: May 25, 2026
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Homes may feel safe, but they account for over half of all preventable injury-related deaths in the U.S. In 2023, 125,700 people died from preventable home accidents, based on National Safety Council data. Poisoning is the leading cause, followed by falls, choking, mechanical suffocation and extreme temperatures.
Adults 75 and older are most vulnerable to falls. West Virginia's preventable death rate of 123 per 100,000 is nearly triple Nebraska's and Utah's rate of 45.
*Per 100,000 population
Home accidents caused 125,700 deaths in 2023, with a death rate of roughly 38 per 100,000 people. Deaths declined slightly from 2022's all-time high of 128,800 deaths and a death rate of 39 per 100,000 population.
These fatalities account for over half of all preventable injury-related deaths annually. The proportion rose from 56% in 2000 to 73% in 2020. Poisoning, falls and other preventable hazards increased risks across all age groups.
Home deaths surged in 2001 (14%), 2005 (11%) and 2016 (14%). The 21% increase in 2020 was the largest single-year jump on record.
Preventable injuries and fatalities are deaths or injuries caused by unintentional, avoidable incidents. Falls, poisonings and drownings from everyday hazards fall into this category. Deaths from natural causes, illnesses or intentional actions like suicide don't qualify as preventable injuries.
Safety measures, education and proactive interventions can prevent these incidents.
Poisoning was the leading cause of preventable home fatalities in 2023, with 77,000 deaths. Falls resulted in 32,000 deaths.
Fires, flames and smoke caused 3,100 deaths, while choking caused 3,000 deaths. Mechanical suffocation caused 1,600 fatalities, and drowning accounted for 1,400 deaths. Natural heat and cold claimed 1,200 lives, and firearms caused 400 deaths.
Home insurance covers repair costs and liability expenses tied to these preventable incidents.
Poisoning and falls combined accounted for 86.8% of all home accident fatalities in 2023. The remaining causes each contributed less than 3%: fires, flames and smoke (2.5%), choking (2.4%), mechanical suffocation (1.3%) and drowning (1.1%). Natural heat and cold (1%) and firearms (0.3%) were the least common causes.
Poisoning caused 77,000 home deaths in 2023, the leading cause across three age groups: it accounted for 95% of deaths among adults aged 25 to 44, 92% for those aged 15 to 24 and 83% for those aged 45 to 64. Poisoning incidents include drug overdoses, excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption and carbon monoxide exposure.
Cleaning supplies like bleach, detergents and other chemicals are fatal if ingested. Paint and pesticides pose serious risks. These products should be stored in secure locations out of children's reach.
Falls affect people of all ages, but fatalities are more common among older adults. Falls were the leading cause of home deaths for those aged 65 to 74, at 36% of fatalities. The fall death rate rises sharply for those aged 75 and older, where falls accounted for 78% of deaths.
Everyday household items like toys, walkers and poorly placed rugs cause trips and falls. Bathrooms and stairs are the most common locations. Grab bars in bathrooms, nonslip mats, adequate lighting and clear walkways reduce fall risk.
Choking isn't the top cause for any specific age group, but it's a serious concern for young children and older adults. Choking accounted for 5% of home fatalities among people aged 65 and older and 4% for children under 14.
Small objects like marbles and toys are among the most common choking hazards for young children, as are large pieces of food. Adult supervision during meals and slower eating habits among older adults reduce incidents. The Heimlich maneuver is the primary first-aid response for blocked airways.
Fires caused by cooking accidents, unattended stoves or electrical faults led to 3,100 home deaths in 2023. Candles that tip over and improperly extinguished cigarettes are common causes of fires at home.
Improperly extinguished flames cause serious burns or smoke inhalation. Toxic fumes from smoke inhalation cause fatalities before visible flames become a threat. Smoke detectors and nearby fire extinguishers are the most common measures for reducing fire deaths at home.
Mechanical suffocation caused 1,600 home fatalities in 2023. It's the leading cause of home deaths for children under four, at 52% of fatalities in that age group.
Common hazards include window blind cord entanglement, refrigerator entrapment and confinement in enclosed spaces. Plastic bags and other items pose serious risks. Removing these hazards from play areas and childproofing the home reduce the risk.
Drowning led to 1,400 home deaths in 2023; children under four accounted for the largest share. For this age group, drowning represented 17% of fatalities. Most incidents occurred in homes with unfenced pools or other water features.
Bathtubs and hot tubs pose risks when young children are left unsupervised. Pool fencing and constant supervision during water activities or bath time prevent these incidents.
Extreme temperatures caused 1,200 preventable home deaths in 2023. Older adults had the highest risk. Heat-related deaths are often linked to dehydration and prolonged sun exposure. Cold-related deaths are most common in poorly heated homes, where hypothermia sets in gradually.
Proper ventilation during heat waves and reliable heating in colder months lower the risk of temperature-related death for older adults and others without reliable heating or cooling.
Firearms caused 400 preventable home deaths in 2023. Young adults and children were among the most affected. The highest number of fatalities occurred among young adults aged 25 to 44 (100 deaths), followed by 15 to 24 and 45 to 64 (70 deaths). Many incidents result from unsecured firearms being accessed by children or others in the household.
Firearms stored unloaded in locked cabinets, with ammunition kept separately, reduce accidental access. Households with children have a higher rate of accidental firearm deaths. Safety education and locked storage reduce those incidents.
Simple adjustments reduce home accident risks:
Poisoning was the leading cause of preventable home deaths in 2023, with 77,000 fatalities.
Falls caused 32,000 deaths; older adults accounted for a disproportionate share. Mechanical suffocation, drowning and extreme temperature exposure each contributed smaller totals.
Natural heat and cold claimed 1,200 lives. Deaths were concentrated among people without adequate heating or cooling. Firearm-related deaths totaled 400, the lowest count among all tracked causes.
In 2023, adults aged 25 to 44 (36,000 deaths), 45 to 64 (38,100 deaths) and 75 and older (30,400 deaths) accounted for 84% of all preventable home deaths.
Adults 75 and older represented a smaller share of total deaths than the 25-to-64 cohort, yet their death rate reached about 124 per 100,000 people, far above any other age group.
Personal liability insurance covers costs if someone is injured on the property. Liability coverage paired with preventive measures lowers home accident risk.
For newborns and children up to age 14, mechanical suffocation is the leading cause, with 1,190 fatalities in 2023. Drowning follows with 730 deaths. Pool fencing and adult supervision during bath time and water activities prevent these incidents.
Poisoning, including drug overdoses, was the leading cause of death in the 15-to-64 age group at 91,970 deaths, or about 90% of all fatalities in that range. Falls (4,820 deaths) and drowning (2,280 deaths) rank second and third.
Falls were the leading cause of death among adults aged 65 and older, with 41,230 fatalities in 2023, or over three-quarters of all deaths in that group. Grab bars and nonslip mats are the most common fall-prevention measures in homes with older adults.
The average fall for an older adult costs more than $62,000 in medical expenses. Fires caused $14.7 billion in property damage in 2023.
A $20 smoke detector or a $50 grab bar reduces home accident risk. Many homeowners insurance policies offer discounts for safety upgrades.
In 2023, West Virginia reported the highest preventable injury-related death rate at 123 per 100,000 population, followed by Tennessee (97) and New Mexico (96). Falls and poisonings are the dominant causes in those states. Nebraska (45), Utah (45) and Texas (50) reported the lowest rates.
State | Preventable Death Rate |
|---|---|
Alabama | 70.8 |
Alaska | 93.1 |
Arizona | 82.2 |
Arkansas | 63.3 |
California | 54.4 |
Colorado | 71.2 |
Connecticut | 62.4 |
Delaware | 84.0 |
Florida | 74.4 |
Georgia | 57.5 |
Hawaii | 56.4 |
Idaho | 63.1 |
Illinois | 57.8 |
Indiana | 66.5 |
Iowa | 57.8 |
Kansas | 62.7 |
Kentucky | 89.4 |
Louisiana | 88.3 |
Maine | 93.4 |
Maryland | 59.2 |
Massachusetts | 63.8 |
Michigan | 61.1 |
Minnesota | 65.0 |
Mississippi | 80.9 |
Missouri | 74.5 |
Montana | 67.2 |
Nebraska | 45.0 |
Nevada | 78.4 |
New Hampshire | 72.8 |
New Jersey | 50.7 |
New Mexico | 96.2 |
New York | 54.5 |
North Carolina | 74.6 |
North Dakota | 54.9 |
Ohio | 79.7 |
Oklahoma | 85.4 |
Oregon | 86.0 |
Pennsylvania | 73.0 |
Rhode Island | 75.4 |
South Carolina | 87.9 |
South Dakota | 58.4 |
Tennessee | 96.7 |
Texas | 49.9 |
Utah | 45.2 |
Vermont | 87.3 |
Virginia | 59.1 |
Washington | 79.8 |
West Virginia | 122.9 |
Wisconsin | 81.9 |
Wyoming | 64.4 |
*Preventable death rate per 100,000 population
Source: National Safety Council
The preventable injury-related home death rate in the U.S. fell slightly in 2023 to 66.5 per 100,000 population, down from 68.1 in 2022. Poisoning, falls and choking rates vary widely across states.
Poisoning was the leading cause of home deaths in most states. West Virginia reported the highest poisoning-related death rate at 78, followed by Alaska (50) and Tennessee (50). Substance misuse and hazardous material exposure account for those states' high rates.
Wisconsin had the highest fall-related death rate at 33 per 100,000. Alabama had the lowest at six.
Choking accounted for a death rate of three per 100,000 in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Alaska and Mississippi. Maine and Wyoming reported no choking-related deaths in 2023.
A home accident is any unintentional injury or fatality that occurs within or around a home environment. Falls, poisonings, drownings and mechanical suffocations happen due to preventable hazards in the household.
In 2023, an estimated 175,300 preventable deaths occurred within home premises or communities, roughly 79% of all preventable injury-related deaths. Home and community deaths rose 78% over the past decade; the death rate per 100,000 people climbed 69% over the same period.
Poisoning incidents, most often involving cleaning materials or medications, cluster in kitchens, bathrooms and garages. Falls are most common on stairs and in bathrooms. Most drowning deaths occur in pools and bathtubs. Choking happens most in dining and living rooms.
Nonslip bathroom mats and stair strips reduce fall risk. Carbon monoxide alarms cut gas exposure deaths. Detergents and chemicals stored out of children's reach lower poisoning risk, which accounted for 77,000 deaths in 2023.
Poisoning is the leading cause of home deaths among those aged 25 to 44, mainly from drug overdoses or improper handling of household chemicals. It accounts for about 61% of all preventable home deaths.
Falls pose the highest risk for adults 75 and older. Mechanical suffocation is the leading cause for children under five.
Around 79% of all preventable deaths occur in homes or communities, according to the National Safety Council.
The 45-to-64 age group accounts for the largest proportion of home fatalities at 30% of preventable injury-related deaths. Adults aged 75 and older have the highest death rate at 124 deaths per 100,000 population, largely due to falls.
The most common household injuries include slips and falls, poisoning, burns and cuts. Falls are most common among older adults. Poisoning usually involves medications or household chemicals. Burns and cuts are most frequent in kitchen accidents.
Homeowners insurance covers repair costs and liability expenses from household accidents. The resources below cover policy selection, liability coverage and the claims process.
About Nathan Paulus
Nathan Paulus is Head of Content and SEO at MoneyGeek, where he leads content strategy and produces original data research across insurance, consumer costs, transportation safety, housing, public policy and personal finance. He also reviews published studies for methodology, source quality and factual accuracy before they reach readers.
Research and Analysis
In nearly six years at MoneyGeek, Paulus has published more than 100 original studies and explanatory guides. His insurance research includes 50-state comparisons of health care outcomes, costs and access; an analysis of how uninsured rates track with state Medicaid expansion decisions and electoral patterns; full coverage auto rate analyses across major insurers in all 50 states; and a study of how premium trends track with industry underwriting losses, with combined ratio data sourced from Fitch Ratings, AM Best and Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI figures. His research also covers vehicle pricing trends across the U.S. new car market, summer traffic fatality rates by state, homeowner underinsurance ratios using mortgage and policy data, and housing affordability across all 50 states.
His research has been cited by Bloomberg, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Fast Company, the San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today and NBC Los Angeles. Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale have also referenced his work.
Career
Growing up, Paulus developed an early interest in personal finance through his grandmother, who emphasized saving over earning as the foundation of financial stability. Her framing still shows up in how he writes about money for people without a financial background.
Paulus joined MoneyGeek in July 2020 as Director of Content Marketing. In that role, he led the content team and directed data journalism production across insurance and personal finance verticals. He was promoted to Head of Marketing and Communications in December 2023, where he took on digital PR and communications strategy. He has held his current role as Head of Content and SEO since January 2025.
Before MoneyGeek, he served as Director of Content Marketing and SEO at Ventrix Advertising. There, he helped build two content sites from scratch, contributed to link-building programs that secured more than 1,500 unique referring domains within a year, and co-managed a marketing team of more than 20 people. Earlier, he spent two and a half years at ABUV Media, moving up from Marketing Research Analyst to Senior Marketing Tactics Analyst, where he built his grounding in audience research, content strategy and SEO.
