Injury prevention
Encyclopedia
Injury prevention are efforts to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accident
s, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety
and public health
, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries
and hence improving quality of life
. Among laypersons, the term "accidental injury" is often used. However, "accidental" implies the causes of injuries are random in nature.. Researchers use the term "unintentional injury" to refer to injuries that are nonvolitional
but preventable. Within the field of public health, efforts are also made to prevent or reduce "intentional injury." Data from the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control, for example, show unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death
from early childhood until middle adulthood. During these years, unintentional injuries account for more deaths than the next nine leading causes of death
combined.
Injury prevention strategies cover a variety of approaches, many of which are classified as falling under the “3 E’s” of injury prevention: education
, engineering
modifications, and enforcement/enactment. Some organizations, such as Safe Kids Worldwide, have expanded the list to six E’s adding: evaluation, economic incentives and empowerment.
is often problematic.
Examining trends in morbidity and mortality in the population is usually not difficult and may provide some indication of the effectiveness of injury prevention interventions. However, this approach suffers from the potential of ecological fallacy
, where the data shows an association between an intervention and a change in the outcome, but there is actually no causal relationship.
and automobile safety
are a major component of injury prevention because it is the leading cause of death for children and young adults into their mid 30’s. Injury prevention efforts began in the early 1960s when activist Ralph Nader
, exposed the automobiles as being more dangerous than necessary with his book Unsafe at Any Speed. This led to engineering changes in the way cars are designed to allow for more crush space between the vehicle and the occupant.
Engineering: vehicle crash worthiness, seat belts, airbags, locking seat belts for child seats.
Education: promote seat belt use, discourage impaired driving, promote child safety seats.
Enforcement and enactment: passage and enforcement of primary seat belt laws, speed limits, impaired driving enforcement.
and psychological injury prevention research. Epidemiological studies typically focus on causes external to the individual such as traffic density, access to safe walking areas, socioeconomic status, injury rates, legislation for safety (e.g., traffic fines), or even the shape of vehicles which affects the severity of injuries resulting from a collision. Epidemiological data show children aged 1–4 are at greatest risk for injury in driveway
and sidewalk
s. Children aged 5–14 are at greatest risk while attempting to cross streets.
The body of psychological research on pedestrian safety is currently much smaller than that in the epidemiological field, but is rapidly growing. Psychological pedestrian safety studies extend as far back as the mid-1980s when researchers began examining behavioral variables in children. Behavioral variables of interest include selection of crossing gaps in traffic, attention to traffic, the number of near hits or actual hits, or the routes children chose when crossing multiple streets such as while walking to school. Behavioral studies often collect such variables which imply risk of injury; e.g., children engaging in risky behaviors may be assumed to be at greater risk if actually crossing a street alone. The most common technique used in behavioral pedestrian research is the pretend road, in which a child stands some distance from the curb and watches traffic on the real road. The child then walks to the edge of the street when a crossing opportunity is chosen. Research is gradually shifting to more ecologically valid virtual reality techniques. Leading scientists in psychological pedestrian safety research are Dr. Benjamin Barton, Dr. David Schwebel and Dr. James Thomson
.
Accident
An accident or mishap is an unforeseen and unplanned event or circumstance, often with lack of intention or necessity. It implies a generally negative outcome which may have been avoided or prevented had circumstances leading up to the accident been recognized, and acted upon, prior to its...
s, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety
Safety
Safety is the state of being "safe" , the condition of being protected against physical, social, spiritual, financial, political, emotional, occupational, psychological, educational or other types or consequences of failure, damage, error, accidents, harm or any other event which could be...
and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries
Injury
-By cause:*Traumatic injury, a body wound or shock produced by sudden physical injury, as from violence or accident*Other injuries from external physical causes, such as radiation injury, burn injury or frostbite*Injury from infection...
and hence improving quality of life
Quality of life
The term quality of life is used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. The term is used in a wide range of contexts, including the fields of international development, healthcare, and politics. Quality of life should not be confused with the concept of standard of...
. Among laypersons, the term "accidental injury" is often used. However, "accidental" implies the causes of injuries are random in nature.. Researchers use the term "unintentional injury" to refer to injuries that are nonvolitional
Volition (psychology)
Volition or will is the cognitive process by which an individual decides on and commits to a particular course of action. It is defined as purposive striving, and is one of the primary human psychological functions...
but preventable. Within the field of public health, efforts are also made to prevent or reduce "intentional injury." Data from the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Centers for Disease Control, for example, show unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
from early childhood until middle adulthood. During these years, unintentional injuries account for more deaths than the next nine leading causes of death
Cause of Death
Cause of Death is a 1990 album by American death metal band Obituary. Cause of Death is considered a classic album in the history of death metal. The artwork was done by artist Michael Whelan...
combined.
Injury prevention strategies cover a variety of approaches, many of which are classified as falling under the “3 E’s” of injury prevention: education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
modifications, and enforcement/enactment. Some organizations, such as Safe Kids Worldwide, have expanded the list to six E’s adding: evaluation, economic incentives and empowerment.
Measuring effectiveness
Research in injury prevention is challenging, because the usual outcome of interest is deaths or injuries prevented, and it is nearly impossible to measure how many people did not get hurt who otherwise would have. Education efforts can be measured by changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors, before and after the intervention, however tying these changes back into reductions in morbidity and mortalityMortality rate
Mortality rate is a measure of the number of deaths in a population, scaled to the size of that population, per unit time...
is often problematic.
Examining trends in morbidity and mortality in the population is usually not difficult and may provide some indication of the effectiveness of injury prevention interventions. However, this approach suffers from the potential of ecological fallacy
Ecological fallacy
An ecological fallacy is a logical fallacy in the interpretation of statistical data in an ecological study, whereby inferences about the nature of specific individuals are based solely upon aggregate statistics collected for the group to which those individuals belong...
, where the data shows an association between an intervention and a change in the outcome, but there is actually no causal relationship.
Traffic and automobile safety
Traffic safetyRoad-traffic safety
The term road traffic safety is about the risk of a person being killed or seriously injured while using the road network as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorist or user of on road public transport...
and automobile safety
Automobile safety
Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of automobile accidents. Automobile safety is the study and practice of vehicle design, construction, and equipment to minimize the occurrence and consequences of...
are a major component of injury prevention because it is the leading cause of death for children and young adults into their mid 30’s. Injury prevention efforts began in the early 1960s when activist Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
, exposed the automobiles as being more dangerous than necessary with his book Unsafe at Any Speed. This led to engineering changes in the way cars are designed to allow for more crush space between the vehicle and the occupant.
Engineering: vehicle crash worthiness, seat belts, airbags, locking seat belts for child seats.
Education: promote seat belt use, discourage impaired driving, promote child safety seats.
Enforcement and enactment: passage and enforcement of primary seat belt laws, speed limits, impaired driving enforcement.
Pedestrian safety
Pedestrian safety is the focus of both epidemiologicalEpidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of health-event, health-characteristic, or health-determinant patterns in a population. It is the cornerstone method of public health research, and helps inform policy decisions and evidence-based medicine by identifying risk factors for disease and targets for preventive...
and psychological injury prevention research. Epidemiological studies typically focus on causes external to the individual such as traffic density, access to safe walking areas, socioeconomic status, injury rates, legislation for safety (e.g., traffic fines), or even the shape of vehicles which affects the severity of injuries resulting from a collision. Epidemiological data show children aged 1–4 are at greatest risk for injury in driveway
Driveway
A driveway is a type of private road for local access to one or a small group of structures, and is owned and maintained by an individual or group....
and sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
s. Children aged 5–14 are at greatest risk while attempting to cross streets.
The body of psychological research on pedestrian safety is currently much smaller than that in the epidemiological field, but is rapidly growing. Psychological pedestrian safety studies extend as far back as the mid-1980s when researchers began examining behavioral variables in children. Behavioral variables of interest include selection of crossing gaps in traffic, attention to traffic, the number of near hits or actual hits, or the routes children chose when crossing multiple streets such as while walking to school. Behavioral studies often collect such variables which imply risk of injury; e.g., children engaging in risky behaviors may be assumed to be at greater risk if actually crossing a street alone. The most common technique used in behavioral pedestrian research is the pretend road, in which a child stands some distance from the curb and watches traffic on the real road. The child then walks to the edge of the street when a crossing opportunity is chosen. Research is gradually shifting to more ecologically valid virtual reality techniques. Leading scientists in psychological pedestrian safety research are Dr. Benjamin Barton, Dr. David Schwebel and Dr. James Thomson
James Thomson
James Thomson may refer to:-Politicians:* James Thomson , 19th century political figure* James William Thomson , New Zealand politician...
.
Other
The following is an abbreviated topic list of some common focus areas of injury prevention efforts:- Bicycle safetyBicycle safetyBicycle safety is the use of practices designed to reduce risk associated with cycling. Some of this subject matter is hotly debated: for example, the discussions as to whether bicycle helmets or cyclepaths really deliver improved safety...
- Boat and water safety
- Child passenger safety
- Consumer product safetyProduct recallA product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
- Firearm safetyGun safetyGun safety is a collection of rules and recommendations that can be applied when handling firearms. The purpose of gun safety is to eliminate or minimize the risks of unintentional death, injury or damage caused by improper handling of firearms....
- FireFire safetyFire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
and burn safety - Home safety
- Impaired driving
- Pedestrian safety
- Poison control
- Toy safetyToy safetyToy safety is the practice of ensuring that toys, especially those made for children, are safe, usually through the application of set safety standards. In many countries, commercial toys must be able to pass safety tests in order to be sold. In the U.S., some toys must meet national standards,...
- Traffic safetyRoad-traffic safetyThe term road traffic safety is about the risk of a person being killed or seriously injured while using the road network as a pedestrian, cyclist, motorist or user of on road public transport...
- Sports injury safety
- Workplace safetyWorkplace safetyWorkplace safety & health is a category of management responsibility in places of employment.To ensure the safety and health of workers, managers establish a focus on safety that can include elements such as:* management leadership and commitment...
Recommended reading (research journals)
- Accident Analysis and Prevention
- Journal of Injury and Violence ResearchJournal of Injury and Violence ResearchThe Journal of Injury and Violence Research is an open-access peer-reviewed medical journal covering clinical practice in traumatology. The journal is indexed by PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, SocINDEX , SafetyLit, and Index Medicus/MEDLINE. It is published biannually by the Kermanshah University of...
- Injury PreventionInjury PreventionInjury Prevention is a peer-reviewed medical journal containing original research, opinions and focus on the prevention of injuries in all age groups, including child and adolescent injuries. It is published by the BMJ Group and the editor in chief is Brian Johnston. Injury Prevention is indexed by...
- International Journal of Injury Control and Safety PromotionInternational Journal of Injury Control and Safety PromotionThe International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion is a peer-reviewed scientific journal covering research in ergonomics, product safety, and the prevention and care of injuries...
- Journal of Safety Research
- Journal of Trauma
- Safety Science
- Traffic Injury Prevention
- Transportation Research: Traffic Psychology and Behavior
See also
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionConsumer Product Safety CommissionThe United States Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent agency of the United States government created in 1972 through the Consumer Product Safety Act to protect "against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products." The CPSC is an independent agency that does...
- Haddon MatrixHaddon MatrixThe Haddon Matrix is the most commonly used paradigm in the injury prevention field.Developed by William Haddon in 1970, the matrix looks at factors related to personal attributes, vector or agent attributes, and environmental attributes before, during and after an injury or death...
- Home Safety CouncilHome Safety CouncilThe Home Safety Council is the only national American nonprofit organization solely dedicated to preventing home related injuries that result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits on average each year....
- National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNational Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthNational Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is the United States’ federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. NIOSH is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S...