Why do so many Americans die falling off ladders?

[cronus]

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_f ... all-ladder

355 died in America last year compared with 5 here in the UK? Are American ladders defective? Made in America?

[Tero]

I think it is like the faucets. You have two taps. Therefore you must also have two ladders, one for each foot. Nobody has gotten on the roof with that yet

[Sean Hayden]

I don't know, but this reminded me of the poor bastard in London who was working on his ladder with a chainsaw when he fell and killed his wife below by nearly completely decapitating her.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ident.html

edit: in case you haven't read enough good news already recently

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

A population 5 times that of thee UK but 71 times the number of deaths by ladder.
Clearly, they need much tighter regulations on ownership and concealed/open carry and more severe penalties for misuse.
On the other hand, if everyone had their own ladder then these senseless deaths might be avoided.
Hmmm...tricky one.

Seriously though - Without meaning to offend anyone I'm wondering if this could be related to the average bodyweight of said populations...Although, looking up the figures does seem to not support this since there is surprisingly (to me anyway) little difference.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_weight#By_country

Could post-accident healthcare be a factor?

[hadespussercats]

Maybe people in the UK live in smaller homes.

[Jason]

If everyone had to carry a personal ladder by law, ladder related deaths would steeply decline. We would also see a drastic fall in ladder related crimes over all. When criminals with ladders know everyone is carrying a ladder are they more likely to take that first step? I don't think so.

[hadespussercats]

Ladders don't kill people. Bad balance kills people.

[cronus]

Maybe it is because Americans don't expect to fall and so take more risks? whilst we over here expect the worst and thus take a more cautious approach?

[Callan]

A population 5 times that of the UK but 71 times the number of deaths by ladder.
Clearly, they need much tighter regulations on ownership and concealed/open carry and more severe penalties for misuse.

Concealed carrying of a ladder...

Is that a ladder in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?

[Jason]

Maybe it is because Americans don't expect to fall and so take more risks? whilst we over here expect the worst and thus take a more cautious approach?

It's because you Englanders barely have 2 square meters of open space that isn't covered by concrete, pavement, or sharp angled pointy things often called buildings. The US is teeming with lush, verdant, fields of soft, fall absorbing, well tended, grass so Americans assume they can fall without injury.

[Pappa]

Americans are genetically predisposed to falling off ladders.
FACT.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

A population 5 times that of the UK but 71 times the number of deaths by ladder.
Clearly, they need much tighter regulations on ownership and concealed/open carry and more severe penalties for misuse.

Concealed carrying of a ladder...

Is that a ladder in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me?

Pull it...It gets bigger.

[Jason]

What keeps it erect? Does it require constant attention? If you walk away and come back will it have collapsed?

[Sean Hayden]

I've been climbing up and down a ladder all morning, this thread always on my mind.

[amused]

Laddering while intoxicated is a real problem here.