to a medical casualty that is a direct result of combat action; the latter refers to a medical casualty that is not a direct result of combat action. Civilian casualties Civilian casualties refers to civilians that are killed or wounded as a direct result of military action. Killed in action A casualty classification generally used to describe any person killed by means of the action of hostile forces. Missing in action A casualty classification generally used to describe any person reported missing during combat operations. They may have deserted, or may have been killed, wounded, or taken prisoner. Wounded in action A casualty classification generally used to describe any person who has incurred an injury by means of action of hostile forces. Prisoner of war A casualty classification generally used to describe any person captured and held in custody by hostile forces. Civilian usage The word "casualty" has been used since 1844 in civilian life. Incidence Military and civilian fatalities According to WHO World health report 2004, deaths from intentional injuries (including war, violence, and suicide) were estimated to be 2.8% of all deaths. In the same report, unintentional injury was estimated to be responsible for 6.2% of all deaths. See also List of causes of death by rate References Further reading America's Wars: U.S. Casualties and Veterans . Infoplease. Online text : War Casualties (1931), by Albert G. Love, Lt. Colonel, Medical Corps, U.S.A.. Medical Field Service School, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. The Army Medical Bulletin Number 24. Selected Death Tolls for Wars, Massacres and Atrocities Before the 20th Century . Statistical Summary: America's Major Wars . U.S. Civil War Center. The world's worst massacres . By Greg Brecht. Fall, 1987. Whole Earth Review. Twentieth Century Atlas – Death Tolls . Gifford, Brian. "Combat Casualties and Race: What Can We Learn from the 2003–2004 Iraq Conflict?" . Armed Forces & Society, Jan 2005; vol. 31: pp. 201–225. Kummel, Gerhard and Nina Leonhard"Casualties and Civil-Military Relations: The German Polity between Learning and Indifference." .Armed Forces & Society, Jul 2005; vol. 31: pp. 513–535. Smith, Hugh. "What Costs Will Democracies Bear? A Review of Popular Theories of Casualty Aversion." . Armed Forces & Society, Jul 2005; vol. 31: pp. 487–512 Van Der Meulen, Jan and Joseph Soeters."Considering Casualties: Risk and Loss during Peacekeeping and Warmaking." . Armed Forces & Society, Jul 2005; vol. 31: pp. 483–486. Bennett, Stephen Earl and Richard S.