Step 1: Wear helmet. Step 2: Avoid murder

Found a copy of the latest state data book on my desk – thanks data fairy! – and had to crack it open because I’m zany like that. First, my attention was arrested by the steepness of a chart on sexually transmitted diseases.

Actually, it was a chart on several groups of diseases, showing the presence of gastroestinal ailments and vaccine-preventable diseases wavering low, and hepatitis dropping steadily. Meanwhile, sexually transmitted diseases appear to be climbing rapidly since from 12,000 in 1996 to 22,600 reported cases nine years later, with only a slight dip in 2006.

This is a well-reported national problem, and Gov. Chris Gregoire brought it up in the last GMAP session on health.

“It’s going to take more than your local health department. Parents need to have a conversation with their kids,” said Health Secretary Mary Selecky.

But back to the data book. It lists the Top 5 causes of death by age group. Accidents remain the No.1 killer for everybody older than 1 and younger than 45. But get this; homicide always makes the list, too. It's the No. 3 cause of death for those 15-24.

HIV has dropped off the list for the 15-24 brackets, thankfully, and heart disease for up to 14-year-olds. Taking heart disease’s place among the kids, however, is pneumonia. It killed six people in this category in 2006.

Once you’re talking 45-year-olds and up, disease takes over: heart, respiratory, Alzheimer’s, cerebovascular, diabetes and “malignant neoplasms,” AKA cancer. These have remained unchanged since 2003.