Deaths In Perspective

Based on watching news on TV during February and March, I concluded the greatest threats to our children and grandchildren and, maybe, our great-grandchildren are:

Terrorist attacks:

Ebola

Measles

HIV/AIDS

That’s a frightening list.  But I like to understand more than what I hear on TV or read on the Internet.

After researching deaths by various means, I now have a different understanding of our threats in this country - at least current threats.  The following are deaths per year in the United States:

Terrorist attacks          17 since 9/11, 2011

Ebola                           1

Measles                       None in last 10 years

HIV/AIDs                     16,000

These numbers are not so terrifying.  However, look at these numbers of deaths per year in the United States.

Cancer                        575,000

Sepsis (blood

poisoning)                    555,000

Accidents                    123,000

Flu                               36,000 (50,000 this past year)

Auto                             34,000

Guns                           32,000

Age related deaths      1,300,000

(heart, respiratory, cardiovascular and Alzheimer's)

While past statistics don’t predict the future, it seems our national press is creating news and then sticking with it until the public grows tired.  Then on to something else.

I learned a few other things doing this short research that I’ll share in another blog.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com