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 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 datasets, in addition to mortality statistics. Some examples include:
For more information on tracking injury and violence health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Injury and Violence Prevention objectives page.
- 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)
- National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
For more information on tracking injury and violence health objectives, please visit the Healthy People 2020 Injury and Violence Prevention objectives page.
- Carbon Monoxide Deaths
- Carbon Monoxide: Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits
- Carbon Monoxide: Poison Control Exposures
- Child Injury Deaths
- Depression: Adult Prevalence
- Domestic Violence During the Perinatal Time Period
- Drug Overdose and Poisoning Incidents
- Fall Injury (Unintentional)
- Homicide
- Infant Safe Sleep
- Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Deaths
- Sexual Violence
- Seat Belts: Safety Restraint Use
- Student Injuries
- Suicide
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Unintentional Injury Deaths
Safety - Adults (BRFSS)
- Seat Belt Use - Crude Rates
- Seat Belt Use - Age-adjusted Rates
- Drinking and Driving - Crude Rates
- Drinking and Driving - Age-adjusted Rates
- Fallen in Past Year - Crude Rates
- Fallen in Past Year - Age-adjusted Rates
Injury and Pregnancy (PRAMS)
- Abuse Before Pregnancy
- Abuse During Pregnancy
- Trauma-related Stress During Pregnancy
- Infant Sleep Position
Injury, Safety, and Violence - Adolescents (YRBS)
- Bicycle Helmet Use
- Seat Belt Use
- Rode With a Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol
- Drove After Drinking Alcohol
- Carried a Weapon on School Property
- Felt Too Unsafe to Go to School
- Threatened or Injured With a Weapon on School Property
- Felt Sad or Hopeless
- Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide
- Made a Suicide Plan
- Attempted Suicide
- Suicide Attempt Requiring Medical Attention
- Carried a Weapon
- Carried a Gun
- In a Physical Fight
- Injured in a Physical Fight
- Physically Hurt by a Boyfriend or Girlfriend on Purpose
- Forced to Have Sexual Intercourse
- Cell Phone Use While Driving, Past 30 Days
- Texting While Driving, Past 30 Days
- Doctor Diagnosed Concussion After Playing Sports or Other Physical Activity
- Symptoms of Concussion
- Removed From Game, Practice, or Workout Due to Suspected Concussion
Student Injury
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) - Adults (BRFSS)
- Number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE Score) - Crude Rates
- Number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE Score) - Age-adjusted Rates
- Mental Illness in Household - Crude Rates
- Mental Illness in Household - Age-adjusted Rates
- Substance Abuse in Household - Crude Rates
- Substance Abuse in Household - Age-adjusted Rates
- Domestic Violence in Household - Crude Rates
- Domestic Violence in Household - Age-adjusted Rates
- Direct Physical, Emotional, or Sexual Abuse - Crude Rates
- Direct Physical, Emotional, or Sexual Abuse - Age-adjusted Rates
- Verbal Abuse - Crude Rates
- Verbal Abuse - Age-adjusted Rates
- Physical Abuse - Crude Rates
- Physical Abuse - Age-adjusted Rates
- Sexual Abuse - Crude Rates
- Sexual Abuse - Age-adjusted Rates
- Utah School Health Profiles 2018
- Utah Traumatic Injury Report 2013-2017
- Utah Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund SFY 2019 Legislative Report
- Utah Traumatic Brain Injury Fund Legislative Report
- October 2019 Spotlight: Opioid Public Data Dashboard Coming Soon
- Concussions in Utah Schools
- Opiate Overdose Outreach Pilot Program Legislative Report
- Timed Up & Go (TUG)
- September 2019 Spotlight: Misapplication of the CDC Guidelines on Prescribing Opioids
- September 2019 Spotlight: Opioid Crisis Planning
- Drowning in Utah 2019 Fact Sheet
- Utah Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Recent Release Report
- Utah Opioid Overdose Fatality Review Hot Spots Report
- February 2019 Utah Health Status Update: Opioid Overdose Deaths by Occupation Groups in Utah, 2012-2017
- Falls Among Older Adults Report 2018
- Utah Traumatic Brain Injury Fund Legislative Report SFY 2018
- Utah Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund SFY 2018
- Suicide Report 2018
- Gabapentin and Prescription Opiods Report 2018
- Child Injuries and Deaths, Utah, 2014-2016
- Drowning in Utah 2018 Factsheet
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Knowledge and Awareness Survey, Utah, 2017 Data
- Women of Childbearing Age Injuries and Deaths, Utah, 2014-2016
- July 2018 Community Health Spotlight: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness
- Intimate Partner Violence Factsheet
- Sexual Violence Factsheet
- January 2018 Utah Health Status Update: Utahns, Being Among the Healthiest People in the Nation - Progress Review
- Sports and Recreation-related Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Transportation-related Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Utah Traumatic Brain Injury Fund Legislative Report
- Utah Spinal Cord Injury and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Fund Legislative Report
- Special Edition Utah Health Status Update: CDC Investigation Shows Youth Suicides in Utah Increasing
- November 2017 Utah Health Status Update: Interpersonal Violence in Utah
- November 2017 Community Health Spotlight: Utah Syringe Exchange Program
- October 2017 Utah Health Status Update: Fentanyl Abuse in Utah and Risks to First Responders
- September 2017 Utah Health Status Update: Initial Diagnosis of Opioid Naive Patients
- Utah School Health Profiles Highlights 2016
- Prescription Opioid Deaths Factsheet
- Playground Safety Factsheet
- February 2017 Community Health Spotlight: Infant Sleep Position Among Teen Mothers
- January 2017 Utah Health Status Update: Eating Disorders Among Adolescents
- State Totals for Student Injuries, 2007-2010
- Falls Among Older Adults
- November 2016 Health Status Update: Prescribing Practice in Utah
- November 2016 Breaking News: Fentanyl and Naloxone
- Violence and Injury Prevention (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Occupational Fatalities (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Suicide (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Prescription Drug Misuse/Deaths (from Utah State Health Assessment 2016 Report)
- Opioid Prescribing Practices in Utah
- Suicide in Utah - Youth (10-17 Years)
- Suicide in Utah 2014
- July 2016 Health Status Update: Opiate Antagonist: Naloxone Awareness in Utah
- June 2016 Breaking News: Youth Suicide
- May 2016 Community Health Spotlight: Domestic Violence During Pregnancy
- April 2016 Community Health Spotlight: Neighborhood Safety During Pregnancy
- Costs of Sexual Violence in Utah
- Utah School Health Profiles Highlights 2014
- August 2015 Community Health Spotlight: Intimate Partner Violence and Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Utah Females
- July 2015 Utah Health Status Update: Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences
- June 2015 Community Health Spotlight: Concussions Among Utah High School Students
- Utah's Trauma System: Outcomes and Trends
- February 2015 Utah Health Status Update: Risk and Protective Factors for Youth Suicide
- Utah's Healthiest People Priorities Report
- Injuries in Utah, 2013
- Utah Violence and Injury Small Area Report 2013
- Adult Use of Prescription Opioid Pain Medications--Utah, 2008 (MMWR Vol. 59 No. 6, February 19, 2010)