Northern Ireland saw nearly 800 deaths and 10,000 injuries from accidents in the 2023/24 period. The region's accidental death rate stood at 39 per 100,000 people, above the UK average of 34 per 100,000. This made residents 23% more likely to die in accidents than those in England.

Falls and accidental poisonings ranked as the leading causes of death. Other factors included road traffic collisions, choking, and smoke exposure.

People in the most deprived half of the population faced almost three times the hospital admission risk from accidents compared to the less deprived half.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents urged the UK government to adopt a National Accidents Prevention Strategy. RoSPA CEO Becky Hickman noted that accidents cause sudden harm with long-term effects on families and communities, and many prove preventable.

Royal College of Emergency Medicine vice president Dr Sally-Anne Wilson stated that emergency departments witness growing accidental injuries, especially falls among older people in homes leading to fractures. She stressed prevention to improve patient results and ease pressure on emergency care.