Preventing Injuries Chapter 12

Unintentional vs. Intentional Injuries can be unintentional – Accidents Injuries can be unintentional – Accidents Injuries can be intentional – Violent acts Injuries can be intentional – Violent acts

Unintentional Injuries Accident versus unintentional injury Accident versus unintentional injury Accident suggests: Accident suggests: chance, fate, inevitability chance, fate, inevitability Unintentional injury considers: Unintentional injury considers: individual behaviors individual behaviors environmental conditions environmental conditions laws laws enforcement enforcement

Injury-related death There were 146,400 injury-related deaths in There were 146,400 injury-related deaths in Motor vehicle traffic 42,473 Motor vehicle traffic 42,473 Firearm-related 32,436 Firearm-related 32,436 Poisoning 17,692 Poisoning 17,692 Falls 12,555 Falls 12,555

Unintentional Injuries-Childhood Leading cause of death for children Leading cause of death for children Automobile accidents Automobile accidents Drowning Drowning Burns, Falls, Suffocation Burns, Falls, Suffocation Poisoning has decreased Poisoning has decreased

Unintentional Injuries-Youth Leading cause of death for adolescents Leading cause of death for adolescents Motor Vehicle Accidents – Alcohol/Seatbelt Motor Vehicle Accidents – Alcohol/Seatbelt Unintentional gunshot wounds Unintentional gunshot wounds

Unintentional Injuries-Adulthood Until 40, car accidents still are leading cause of death. After that, steep decline. Until 40, car accidents still are leading cause of death. After that, steep decline. Job related deaths Job related deaths

Reducing Unintentional Injuries Changing Individual Behavior Changing Individual Behavior Changing the Environment Changing the Environment Changing the Law Changing the Law

Changing Individual Behavior Preventing Home Injuries Preventing Home Injuries Prevention programs geared to parents Prevention programs geared to parents Preventing Work Injuries Preventing Work Injuries Personalizing workplace safety Personalizing workplace safety Vehicle-Related Injuries Vehicle-Related Injuries Seatbelts, Helmets and Alcohol Seatbelts, Helmets and Alcohol

Worksite wellness 80% of large companies (more than 50 employees) have a wellness program 80% of large companies (more than 50 employees) have a wellness program insurance costs insurance costs prevention versus cure prevention versus cure productivity productivity absenteeism absenteeism turnover turnover energy energy injuries injuries

Changing the Environment Inspection Inspection Education Education Modification Modification

Changing the Law Generally more effective than individual or environmental interventions Generally more effective than individual or environmental interventions Seatbelts Seatbelts Hazardous Materials Hazardous Materials Drinking Age Drinking Age

Effective legislation Laws increasing the penalty ineffective Laws increasing the penalty ineffective Laws increasing the certainty of getting caught effective Laws increasing the certainty of getting caught effective Laws that raise taxes on alcoholic beverages also effective. Laws that raise taxes on alcoholic beverages also effective.

Intentional Injuries

Suicide Suicide Homicide Homicide Child Abuse Child Abuse Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Non-relational Non-relational

Intentional Injuries-Childhood Child Abuse Child Abuse Injury Injury Death Death

Intentional Injuries-Youth Gun Violence Gun Violence Suicide Suicide Sexual Assault Sexual Assault

Homicide and suicide Guns kept in the home are 43 times more likely to kill a family member or friend than to kill in self-defense Guns kept in the home are 43 times more likely to kill a family member or friend than to kill in self-defense

Suicide For young people 15 to 24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. For young people 15 to 24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide.

Suicide Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens. Every 46 minutes, a young person kills himself or herself-- over 60% of the time with a firearm. In 1994, 3,344 youths aged committed suicide with firearms. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for teens. Every 46 minutes, a young person kills himself or herself-- over 60% of the time with a firearm. In 1994, 3,344 youths aged committed suicide with firearms.

Suicide In 1992, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than died from cancer, heart disease, HIV infection or AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia and influenza, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined. In 1992, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than died from cancer, heart disease, HIV infection or AIDS, birth defects, pneumonia and influenza, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined.

Suicide Prevention One survey of high school students found: One survey of high school students found: 24% seriously considered suicide 24% seriously considered suicide 9% made an attempt 9% made an attempt 3% sought medical attention 3% sought medical attention Interventions Interventions treatment for depression, substance abuse treatment for depression, substance abuse crisis counseling crisis counseling educational programs educational programs

Guns and Suicide Impulsiveness appears to play an important role in suicide, especially youth suicide. It is not uncommon for adolescents to have passing suicidal impulses and the availability of a gun increases the likelihood suicide will be completed. Impulsiveness appears to play an important role in suicide, especially youth suicide. It is not uncommon for adolescents to have passing suicidal impulses and the availability of a gun increases the likelihood suicide will be completed.

Guns and Suicide Research indicates a gun in the home is about 43 times more likely to be used for suicide or murder than self-defense. Research indicates a gun in the home is about 43 times more likely to be used for suicide or murder than self-defense.

Guns and Suicide For every case of self-protective homicide involving a firearm kept in the home, 37 suicides, 4.6 criminal homicides and 1.3 unintentional deaths occur (an overall ratio of 43 to 1) (Kellermann and Reay, 1986). For every case of self-protective homicide involving a firearm kept in the home, 37 suicides, 4.6 criminal homicides and 1.3 unintentional deaths occur (an overall ratio of 43 to 1) (Kellermann and Reay, 1986).

Intentional Injuries-Adulthood

Preventing violence Murder rate not escalating Murder rate not escalating Black males have far higher death rate from homicide. 8 to 10 times that of whites Black males have far higher death rate from homicide. 8 to 10 times that of whites Causes of violence Causes of violence poverty, injustice poverty, injustice availability of weapons availability of weapons glorification of violence glorification of violence

Domestic violence Violent crimes occur more frequently within families than among strangers. Violent crimes occur more frequently within families than among strangers. Major health problem in the U.S. Major health problem in the U.S.

Domestic violence A woman is more likely to be assaulted, raped or murdered by a current of former male partner than by any other assailant. A woman is more likely to be assaulted, raped or murdered by a current of former male partner than by any other assailant. Text suggests that 25% of women and 30% of men endorse violence in some disputes. Text suggests that 25% of women and 30% of men endorse violence in some disputes.

Reducing Intentional Injuries Home Home School/Community School/Community Workplace Workplace Instituitional Instituitional

Home Child Abuse Child Abuse Prevention Prevention Treatment Treatment Domestic Violence Domestic Violence Prevention Prevention Treatment Treatment

School/Community Direct Direct Indirect Indirect

Workplace Spillover DV Spillover DV Dangerous Employees Dangerous Employees

Institutional Child Abuse at School/Daycare Child Abuse at School/Daycare Elder Abuse Elder Abuse

Preventing Suicide Educational Programs Educational Programs Telephone Hotlines Telephone Hotlines Limit Access to Guns Limit Access to Guns