Injury and Violence
Injury includes a wide range of health topics, from unintentional injuries, such as car
crashes and falls, to intentional injuries, such as assault and suicide. The consequences
of injury are not just physical. Many people who suffer an injury may also have mental
health and financial problems that can last a lifetime. The good news is that many injuries
are preventable. From seat belts to violence prevention programs, injury prevention saves lives.
Injuries are the leading cause of death among persons aged 1-44 years, resulting in more
than 187,000 deaths per year in the United States. An additional 31.7 million persons suffer
a non-fatal injury requiring medical attention each year.1
In addition to the immediate physical consequence, injuries impact health by contributing to:
- Premature death
- Disability
- Poor mental health
- High medical costs
- Lost productivity2
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS),
downloaded on 8/14/2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/injury/WISQARS/.
2. Finkelstein EA, Corso PS, Miller TR. Incidence and economic burden on injuries in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006
2. Finkelstein EA, Corso PS, Miller TR. Incidence and economic burden on injuries in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006
Injury data cover a broad array of topics. Here are some injury-related statistics for the United
States:3
- Each year, injuries are responsible for:
- More than 187,000 deaths.
- More than 31.7 million emergency department visits.
- More than 2.8 million hospitalizations.
- $406 billion in medical care and lost productivity.
- Intentional injuries account for 7% of all non-fatal injuries and 33% of injury-related fatalities.
- Injuries are the leading cause of disability, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury
Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS),
downloaded on 8/14/2014 from http://www.cdc.gov/injury/WISQARS/.
There are many factors that can affect the risk of unintentional injury and violence:
- Individual characteristics, such as education, age, and sex
- Individual behaviors, such as alcohol use or risk-taking
- Physical environment, such as safe homes and roadways
- Social environment, such as relationships and community cohesion
- Societal factors, such as cultural beliefs, laws, and regulations
The risk of injury can be reduced in a large number of ways. For unintentional injuries,
prevention methods may include changes to the environment, improvements in technology and product
safety, or legislation and enforcement of safety laws. For intentional injuries, prevention
efforts may include changes in social norms surrounding violence, policy changes that address
the social and economic conditions that are associated with violence, or improvements in skills
such as conflict resolution and coping.
Injuries are tracked using a range of surveys, in addition to mortality statistics. Some examples include:
For more information on tracking tobacco use health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Injury and Violence Prevention objectives page here.
- National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)
- National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS)
- Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)
- National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS)
- National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)
For more information on tracking tobacco use health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Injury and Violence Prevention objectives page here.
- Alaska Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Alaska Childhood Understanding Behaviors Survey (CUBS)
- Alaska Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
- Alaska Firearm Injury Reporting Surveillance System (AKFIRSS)
- Alaska Occupational Disease and Injury Surveillance System (AKODISS)
- Alaska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
- Alaska Trauma Registry
- Alaska Violent Death Reporting System (AKVDRS)
- Health Facilities Data Reporting (HFDR)
- Syndromic Surveillance
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Emotional Neglect
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Emotional and Verbal Abuse
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Physical Abuse
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Physical Neglect
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Sexual Abuse
- Adverse Childhood Experiences: Witnessed Abuse
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Dating Violence - Adolescents (Grades 9-12)
- Drug-induced Mortality Rate
- Firearm-related Mortality Rate
- Injury: Unintentional Injury Mortality Rate
- Rape (HA2020 Leading Health Indicator: 12)
- Suicide Mortality Rate - Ages 15-24
- Suicide Mortality Rate - Ages 25+
- Suicide Mortality Rate - All Ages
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
Some of these links will take you to the query where you can select SUBMIT to run the default query. To modify the query criteria, you can use the top left ("MODIFY Query") navigation button on the query results page.
- BRFSS - Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System - Selection Menu
- YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Local Selection Menu
- YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Statewide Selection Menu
BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) - Examples
Adverse Childhood Experiences (Before age 18)
- Parents or adults in your home ever swear, insult, or put you down more than once
- Parents or adults in your home ever physically hurt you
- Were you ever injured by parents or guardians or their partners
- Did anyone at least 5 years older or adult ever touch you sexually
- Did anyone at least 5 years older or adult ever make you touch them sexually
- Did anyone at least 5 years older or adult ever make you have sex
- Ever a victim of sexual abuse (any means)
- Lived with anyone who was depressed, mentally ill, or suicidal
- Lived with anyone who served time in prison, jail, or correctional facility
- Lived with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic
- Lived with anyone who used illegal street drugs or abused prescription medications
- Lived with anyone who was problem drinking or used illegal street drugs or abused prescription medications
- Parents were separated or divorced
- Parents or adults in your home ever hit each other
- Witnessed parent physically hurt by spouse/partner
- Physically neglected
- Emotionally neglected
- 1+ Adverse childhood experiences
Intimate Partner Violence
Safety
- Drinking and Driving
- Drove a motor vehicle after binge drinking
- Fell within past 3 months - 45+
- Firearms safety
- Seatbelt use - always
Sexual violence
YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Local Survey Examples
Safety
- Seat Belt Use Never
- Rode With Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Drove When Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Drove While Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Texted or E-mailed While Driving in Past Month
Sexual Violence
- Among students who dated - physically forced to do sexual things by someone they dated in past year
- Ever physically forced to have sexual intercourse
Suicide
- Actually Attempted Suicide in Past Year
- Attempted Suicide That Resulted in a Need For Medical Treatment
Violence
- In a Physical Fight in Past Year
- Among Students Who Dated - Ever Physically Hurt by Someone They Dated in Past Year
YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) - Statewide Survey Examples
Safety
- Seat Belt Use Never
- Rode With Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Drove When Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Drove While Drinking Alcohol in Past Month
- Among Students Who Drove - Texted or E-mailed While Driving in Past Month
Sexual Violence
- Among students who dated - physically forced to do sexual things by someone they dated in past year
- Ever physically forced to have sexual intercourse
Suicide
- Actually Attempted Suicide in Past Year
- Attempted Suicide That Resulted in a Need For Medical Treatment