EXAMPLE 3: This means that 0.5 cases of severe chronic disability is equal to 1 death; or 2 deaths are equal to 1 severe chronic disability case. This means that death is preferable to severe chronic disability.

Now consider categories A through C. These are categories of acute illness, and therefore are measured in days rather than in cases. For example, category A is “moderate localized pain, minor systemic reaction, or impairment indicating minor change in normal activities.” As before, you want to compare this category to the death of one young child. You would probably use a large number for category A because you are measuring relatively mild consequences in terms of days in each category. Perhaps it is helpful to think that a child under 5 years of age may have a life expectancy of 55 more years, which is equal to 20,000 days. You might think that category A would only make a person unable to work or play for a small part of each day. Therefore you would need a very large number of days of mild illness to be as bad as the death of a young child. Perhaps you would say 150,000 days or more. You would then write the number “150,000” in the space next to category A.

Categories A through C can be filled out in this manner. Each category refers to different types of acute illnesses, and therefore you can balance the number of days for each category with the death of a young child.