Injury and Violence
Why it's important
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
What is known
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.
Who is at risk and how to reduce it
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
How it's tracked
Injuries are tracked using a range of datasets, in addition to mortality statistics. Some examples include:- 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)
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.
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/.
- Carbon monoxide deaths
- Carbon monoxide: hospitalizations and emergency department visits
- Carbon monoxide: poison control exposures
- Child emotional abuse, self-reported
- Child physical abuse, self-reported
- Child sexual abuse, self-reported
- 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
- Sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)
- 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
Safety - Adolescents
- Bicycle Helmet Use (YRBS)
- Seat Belt Use (YRBS)
- Seatbelt Always (PNA)
- Seatbelt Sometimes (PNA)
- Rode With a Driver Who Had Been Drinking Alcohol (YRBS)
- Drove After Drinking Alcohol (YRBS)
- Cell Phone Use While Driving, Past 30 Days (YRBS)
- Talking on Cell Phone While Driving (PNA)
- Texting While Driving, Past 30 Days (YRBS)
- Texting on Cell Phone While Driving (PNA)
- Doctor Diagnosed Concussion After Playing Sports or Other Physical Activity (YRBS)
- Symptoms of Concussion (YRBS)
- Removed From Game, Practice, or Workout Due to Suspected Concussion (YRBS)
Injury and Pregnancy (PRAMS)
- Abuse Before Pregnancy
- Abuse During Pregnancy
- Trauma-related Stress During Pregnancy
- Infant Sleep Position
Violence - Adolescents
- Carried a Weapon on School Property (YRBS)
- Felt Too Unsafe to Go to School (YRBS)
- Unsafe at School (PNA)
- Bullied at School (PNA)
- Electronic Bullying (PNA)
- Threatened or Injured With a Weapon on School Property (YRBS)
- Carried a Weapon (YRBS)
- Carried a Gun (YRBS)
- In a Physical Fight (YRBS)
- Injured in a Physical Fight (YRBS)
- Physically Hurt by a Boyfriend or Girlfriend on Purpose (YRBS)
- Dating Violence (PNA)
- Verbal or Emotional Dating Harm (YRBS)
- Forced to Have Sexual Intercourse (YRBS)
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