So, You Wanna Know How Many Okies Kick the Bucket Each Year? Buckle Up, Buttercup, It's Not Exactly a Barn Dance
Ever ponder the mortality rate in the Sooner State? You're not alone, my friend. Maybe you're a morbid statistician on a data quest, or perhaps you just placed a hefty bet on the Oklahoma State Horseshoe Throwing Championship (it's a thing, trust me), and, well, things aren't looking good for your team. Whatever the reason, you've stumbled upon the thrilling, nail-biting world of Oklahoma's death statistics!
But Here's the Kicker: We Don't Have a Big, Ol' Body Count Sign at the Border
Unlike a dusty old western saloon with a swinging door that keeps track of incoming and outgoing cowboys (though Oklahoma does have a saloon or two with some swinging doors), there's no one place that tallies up the exact number of folks who've shuffled off this mortal coil every year.
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However, We Do Have Some Fancy Number Crunching Going On
The good folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bless their number-loving hearts, track death rates across the nation, including Oklahoma. They use a fancy term called the "age-adjusted death rate" which basically means they consider how old folks are in Oklahoma compared to other states. Why? Because, let's face it, your grandma is statistically more likely to, ahem, kick the bucket than your high school gym teacher (unless your gym teacher moonlights as a rodeo clown – then all bets are off).
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So, How Many Okies Does the Grim Reaper Reap Each Year?
Here's the not-so-shocking news: folks die in Oklahoma every year. Shocking, right? In 2021 (which is the most recent data available, because, you know, paperwork and all that), the age-adjusted death rate in Oklahoma was around 1,121 deaths per 100,000 residents. That translates to a whole lot of folks, but again, we don't have the exact number.
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| How Many People Die In Oklahoma Every Year |
But Wait, There's More!
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The CDC also tracks leading causes of death in Oklahoma, which might be a tad more interesting than a raw number. So, if you're curious about how Okies are most likely to meet their maker, here's a quick and dirty list:
- Heart Disease: This one takes the cake (or the pecan pie, as the case may be).
- Cancer: Not a fun way to go.
- Accidents: Because sometimes life throws you a curveball (or a rogue tumbleweed).
- COVID-19: The pandemic put a damper on things, unfortunately.
- Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: Emphysema and the like – smoking is a bad habit, folks.
How To FAQ: Your Guide to Not Kickin' the Bucket (Sooner Than Necessary) in Oklahoma
- How to Avoid Heart Disease: Eat your veggies, ditch the fried catfish (or at least go light on the batter), and maybe take a walk around the lake instead of watching another Sooners game (sorry, had to!).
- How to Avoid Cancer: Sunscreen is your friend, folks. And don't forget about all those delicious fruits and veggies – they're packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants!
- How to Avoid Accidents: Buckle up, don't text and drive, and maybe avoid riding those mechanical bulls at the county fair (unless you're a pro, then by all means, have at it!).
- How to Avoid COVID-19: Get vaccinated, wear a mask when necessary, and wash those hands like you just wrestled a greased pig (another Oklahoma tradition, perhaps?).
- How to Avoid Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases: Put down the cigarettes, folks! There's a whole world of flavor out there that doesn't involve smoke inhalation.
So, there you have it! A not-so-grim look at Oklahoma's death rate. Remember, life's short, so make the most of it in the Sooner State – just try not to do anything too crazy that might land you on the wrong side of the statistics.
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