April is National Limb Loss Awareness Month. Each day, more than 500 Americans undergo amputation of a limb, more than half as a result of vascular disease. Each year, more than 1,000 babies are born with a limb difference, and as of March 2014, over 1500 military service members have lost a limb during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Add to that limb loss from traumas such as motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents (especially construction and agricultural), and accidents from firearms/explosives/fireworks, and you have a significant number of individuals who have been impacted by limb loss. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 3.6 million people will be living with limb loss.
The Amputee Coalition, a leading national non-profit patient advocacy organization for people affected by limb loss, has launched a new campaign, “Amplify”, to “encourage people with limb loss and limb difference as well as their allies, family and friends to advocate for the right to medically appropriate care.” Among other initiatives, this campaign is designed to assist individuals in advocating for appropriate care and coverage from insurance companies. For more information about Amplify, go to: Amplify
You can find the Amputee Coalition on social media here:
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/AmputeeUSA
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmputeesUSA
Below is the press release from the Amputee Coalition about Limb Loss Awareness Month:
And here you will see a helpful graphic with statistics about limb loss: