12-year analysis of nonbattle injuries in US service members

Editor's Note

Approximately one-third of casualties during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars resulted from nonbattle injuries (NBIs), this study finds.

In this analysis of 29,958 casualties (battle injuries and NBIs), NBIs caused 34.1% of total casualties and 11.5% of all deaths. Rates of NBIs were higher among women than men (63.2% vs 33.1%).

A higher proportion of NBIs occurred in members of the Air Force (66.3%) and Navy (48.3%) than in the Army (34.7%) and Marine Corps (25.7%).

Among the leading causes of NBIs:

• Falls (21.3%)
• Motor vehicle crashes (18.8%)
• Machinery or equipment accidents (12.6%)
• Blunt objects (10.8%)
• Gunshot wounds (7.1%)
• Sports (6.8%).

Understanding and monitoring NBIs could reduce the injury burden sustained during war and may be useful in guiding targeted safety interventions, the authors say.