A little perspective, please

Today's headlines were about as cheery as yesterday's: "County declares emergency", the Daily Breeze declares.

The media (more so TV outlets than newspapers) has been at a fever pitch about the "pandemic" swine flu for days, with this morning's latest tragedy taking front stage -- a Mexican toddler who fell victim to the virus in Texas. Now, Los Angeles County health officials are investigating swine flu clusters in three schools including a San Pedro school.

As if the fear of airborne infection wasn't tangible enough, Tuesday's Daily Breeze featured this news: "Mosquito with West Nile found in Carson", alongside "Pandemic alert level raised over swine flu" and "South Bay officials take precautions".

While we should all take precautions to avoid viral infections, here's a few statistics to give some perspective on dangers to our health:

• In 2008, 39,800 people died in the U.S. in motor vehicle-related collisions, according to the National Safety Council.
• There were 1,200 reported cases of West Nile virus last year nationwide, and 27 deaths. Most people who contract the virus have no symptoms or adverse health effects.
• 53 people die each year in the country from "ladder deaths" (presumably falling off a ladder), according to the Centers for Disease Control. More than 8,300 people are injured on ladders.
• Unconfirmed handfuls of people die each year around the world by spontaneously combustion, or bursting into fire for unknown reason.
• Thousands of deaths in America each year happen at work, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics'  National Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries report says. The most dangerous jobs? Police officers, fishers, loggers, aircraft pilots and flight engineers, and iron and steel workers.
• About 700 people die per year due to carbon monoxide poisoning from incorrectly using heating or cooking appliances or vehicles.
• There were about 1,300 murders in California last year, according to preliminary statistics from the FBI.
• The American Lung Association reported today that Los Angeles has some of the most polluted air in the country, just behind Bakersfield and Pittsburgh.