Injury and Violence Prevention

 Injuries and violence are widely present in society. They are among the top fifteen killers of Americans of all ages. Most situations that lead to injury or death are avoidable even though some people accept them as faith or accidents. Between the ages of one to forty-four, injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans. Regardless of socioeconomic status, sex, or race/ethnicity, it is the leading cause of disability for all ages. Over 180,000 people succumb to injuries each year, and about 1 in 10 sustains a nonfatal injury severe enough to require treatment in a hospital emergency department (HealthyPeople.gov, 2014).

Injury and Violence can lead to:

• Early death
• Loss of productivity
• Disability 
• Mental health issues
• High medical costs
• Dysfunctional family 

Causes of Violence and Unintentional Injury 

• Drug and alcohol abuse or risk-taking behaviors. 
• Physical environment in the home and the community below standard.
• Social experiences, for example, victimization history.
• Peer pressure

How to prevent unintentional injury:

• Environmental modification
• Improve product safety
• Education and behavior change
• Technology and engineering

Preventing violence:

• Change social norms about the willingness to intervene and the acceptability of violence.
• Improve communication, parenting, impulse control, conflict resolution, and coping skills.
• Foster safe, nurturing, stable, environments and relationships for children and families
• Address the economic and social conditions that often lead to violence.

By Nattlya A.

References

HealthyPeople.gov. (2014). Injury and Violence Prevention. Healthy People 

2020. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/injury-and-violence-prevention