Adults Ages 60 to 69 Had the Highest Estimated Number of ER-Treated Injuries Over Five Years
Porches and balconies give families more space to relax and gather. But injuries associated with these areas and other open-sided floors send thousands of Americans to emergency departments each year.
An analysis by Deck Guardian of data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) found that adults ages 60 to 69 accounted for an estimated 107,919 emergency department-treated injuries associated with porches, balconies, open-sided floors or floor openings between 2021 and 2025.
That was the highest five-year estimate among the age groups examined, followed by adults ages 70 to 79, with an estimated 99,961 injuries.
The analysis also highlights an opportunity for homeowners to consider how people of different ages use outdoor spaces, from entering the porch to walking down steps and reaching seating areas.
Key Findings
- Adults ages 60 to 69 had the highest estimated number of injuries over the five-year period, at 107,919.
- Adults ages 70 to 79 followed, with an estimated 99,961 injuries.
- Adults ages 80 and older accounted for an estimated 80,576 injuries over the same period.
- In 2025, the three age groups covering adults 60 and older accounted for an estimated 67,825 injuries, based on the sum of the published age-group estimates.
- Across all age groups with reported estimates, the five-year total was approximately 662,614 injuries.
These figures are national estimates of injuries treated in emergency departments. They do not establish that a porch, balcony or other structure was defective or identify what caused each injury.
Estimated Injuries by Age Group
The table below adds the annual estimates for each age group from 2021 through 2025.
National Estimate of Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments by Year and Age
Age group | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Total, 2021–2025 |
0–9 years | 12,305 | 12,779 | 11,766 | 14,886 | 13,968 | 65,704 |
10–19 years | 6,902 | 7,943 | 5,972 | 8,651 | 7,936 | 37,404 |
20–29 years | 9,940 | 8,913 | 7,162 | 12,098 | 11,756 | 49,869 |
30–39 years | 12,778 | 14,120 | 11,456 | 16,319 | 15,624 | 70,297 |
40–49 years | 11,998 | 12,308 | 12,245 | 13,596 | 16,597 | 66,744 |
50–59 years | 16,833 | 16,132 | 13,978 | 19,504 | 17,693 | 84,140 |
60–69 years | 19,919 | 19,964 | 18,881 | 25,577 | 23,578 | 107,919 |
70–79 years | 16,484 | 17,606 | 17,858 | 23,799 | 24,214 | 99,961 |
80 years and older | 14,843 | 15,264 | 13,675 | 16,761 | 20,033 | 80,576 |
Total for reported age groups | 122,002 | 125,029 | 112,993 | 151,191 | 151,399 | 662,614 |
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, NEISS. Figures are national estimates. The total excludes the suppressed unknown-age category. Adults ages 80 and older are grouped together in the source data.
Older Adults Accounted for the Largest Combined Share
The three age groups covering adults 60 and older accounted for an estimated 288,456 injuries over the five years. That represents approximately 44% of the total among the age groups with reported estimates.
In 2025 alone, the estimate for adults ages 70 to 79 was 24,214, the highest point estimate among the age groups that year. Adults ages 60 to 69 followed at 23,578, while the estimate for adults ages 80 and older was 20,033.
These figures show the estimated number of injuries, not the injury rate for each age group. The age groups differ in population size, and the 80-and-older category covers a wider range of ages. The estimates also have uncertainty, so small differences between groups should be interpreted carefully.
What Homeowners Can Consider
The injury data does not explain whether a loose railing, a step, a fall or another circumstance contributed to a particular visit. Still, it provides a reason for families to think about how an outdoor space works for the people who use it.
When reviewing a porch or deck, homeowners can consider:
- The route from the house. Is the transition onto the outdoor surface easy to see and navigate?
- Steps and handrails. Are steps in good condition, and do people have a secure handrail where needed?
- Lighting. Can guests see the entrance, walking path and steps after dark?
- The walking surface. Are there loose boards, raised edges or other visible problems that need attention?
- Furniture placement. Is there enough room to move between seating, doors and stairs?
Homeowners who notice movement in a railing, damaged framing or other structural concerns should arrange a professional assessment before relying on the space.
Methodology
Deck Guardian analyzed national injury estimates from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for treatment years 2021 through 2025.
The query selected product code 1817: “Porches, balconies, open-sided floors or floor openings.” Results were grouped by year and 10-year age group, with a separate category for adults ages 80 and older. The query included the listed body-part and patient-disposition categories.
To calculate five-year age-group totals, Deck Guardian added the published annual national estimates for each age group. Annual and overall totals in this report likewise sum the estimates for the age groups shown. The estimate for unknown age was suppressed in each year and is excluded from those totals.
NEISS estimates are based on emergency department cases reported by a sample of participating hospitals. They are estimates, not exact counts, and are subject to sampling uncertainty. The original table includes coefficients of variation and confidence intervals for each annual age-group estimate.
The results represent injuries associated with the selected product category. They do not identify the cause of injury or establish that a structure was unsafe. The category includes more than porches and balconies, so the findings should not be described as deck-only or porch-only injuries.
Source
About Deck Guardian
Deck Guardian is a New Jersey-based deck design and construction company serving homeowners in New Jersey and selected areas of Pennsylvania. Its services include new decks, deck resurfacing, porches and custom outdoor living spaces.
