INTENTIONAL & UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES

1. INTENTIONAL & UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES

2. Motor vehicle crashes, falls, suicides, drowning, youth violence. These are just a few examples from a growing area in public health, which can be summarized in one word-----injuries.

3. Due to extensive research that has been done within the field of injury prevention and control, it has been proven that injuries are similar to diseases, in that injuries are not accidents, do not occur at random, and have identified risk and protective factors making them preventable. (SOPHE, Unintentional Injury/Violence Prevention)

4. Injuries take a major toll, not only to an individual, but also to the society. While many injuries are defined as mortality rates, injuries can also impair overall health – causing life-long disabilities, psychological effects, and detriment to a person’s overall well being. Additionally, monetary costs arise from medical expenses, police & fire services, property damage, and wage losses.

6. What we must remember is that all life contains risks. Part of becoming an adult is learning to be aware of risks and weighing the possible consequences of taking risks, and making healthy choices. It is important to consider and bewilling to accept the consequences of high risk behavior.

7. STATISTICS ON ACCIDENTS OR UNINTENTIONAL INJURIES /CDC/2007 Health Care Use – 28.4 million # of emergency dept visits in 2007 Mortality (All unintentional injury deaths – 123,706), 41 per 100,000 population. Unintentional falls deaths (number of deaths – 22,631), 7.5 per 100,000 population Motor vehicle traffic deaths (number of deaths – 42,031), 13.1 per 100,000 population Unintentional poisoning deaths (number of deaths – 29,846), 9.9 per 100,000 population

8. Unintentional Injuries a. formerly called “accidents” b. leading cause of death and disability for children, teens, and young adults c. most can be prevented d. there are five major categories of unintentional injuries

9. 1. MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES a. 75% of the crashes occur within 25 miles of home at speeds less than 40 miles per hour (mph) b. teens only represent 7% of all licensed drivers nation-wide c. Teens are involved in 15% of all fatal crashes

10. d. Driver inexperience is the main reason for these vehicle crashes e. Most motor crashes are a result of human error. The 5 most common reasons are: 1. excessive speed 2.agressive driving 3.driver distraction 4.alcohol & other drugs, and 5.use/nonuse of safety equipment

11. excessive speed is cited as a cause of about 2/3rds of all crashes • g. aggressive driving incidents have increased approximately 7% per year since 1990. Most are due to bad habits • h. Driver distraction can be caused by fatigue and sleepiness, cellular phones, passengers in the car, and performing other tasks at the same time as driving.

12. cellular phones can be blamed for 20-30% of all traffic collisions. Studies show that there is no difference in response time between users of handheld and hands free phones. • j. other distractions may include unrestrained pets, changing a CD or, reaching for food or drink • k. teenagers biggest distraction? • OTHER TEENS IN THE CAR!

13. l. Alcohol used to represent 50% of all deaths in 1989 from traffic accidents.. Ten years later it has dropped to 38%. For teens that number has dropped 61% from 1982-1989. Making legal drinking age to 21 and passing a zero-tolerance-for alcohol traffic laws are thought to be partially responsible for this decrease.

14. m. Improper use and nonuse of safety equipment: lap and shoulder belts, front airbags, and even side airbags have helped to reduce fatalities. The problem with airbags is that even as they inflate, they can injure or even kill a child or small adult in a passenger seat.

15. n. Motorcycles cause 1 in 10 traffic fatalities among those who are 15-34 years old. The biggest problem is that most people don’t see motorcycles or its driver. Being visible is crucial. Taking a class in motorcycle safety training can alert you to important safety precautions

16. o. Bicycles are usually included in statistics regarding motor vehicle crashes because they are considered to be moving vehicles with all the rights and responsibilities of an automobile. A big help would always be to wear a bicycle helmet. It is estimated that wearing a helmet reduces the risk of death by 85%.

17. 2. INJURIES IN THE HOME National Safety Council reports one (1) fatal injury every 18 minutes and one disabling injury every 4 seconds in homes. They include: a. falls - tripping and slipping b. fires – 1 death every 2 hours; smoke inhalation kills more often than burns best prevention? Smoke detectors and also having a plan of escape.

18. c. poisonings – caused by household products, plants, & medicines. Call POISON CONTROL CENTER for best advice on treating. d. suffocation & choking 50% of deaths involve children; common causes are loose bedding, plastic bags, & window blind cords. Food and small objects can obstruct the airway. Use the ABDOMINAL THRUST MANUEVER

19. 3. FIREARMS – children and even teens are killed with guns they do not know are loaded. Never assume a gun is safe.

20. 4.WORK RELATED INJURIES: • frequently the result of: • 1. lack of training • 2. poor worker attitudes • 3. stress & fatigue

21. 5. RECREATIONAL INJURIES Four ways to prevent? Wear a. safety and protective gear b. use it properly & consistently. c. avoid use of drugs and alcohol. d. be aware of your actions.

22. so remember, be healthy and be safe!