Injury and Violence Prevention

According to the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, nearly 30 million emergency room visits and more than 180,000 deaths are attributable to injury and violence each year. In fact, injury is the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 44 in the United States.  Millions more Americans are injured and survive, only to cope with lifelong disabilities. In a single year, injury and violence ultimately cost the United States $406 billion, including over $80 billion in medical costs and $326 billion in lost productivity. Preventing injuries is extremely cost effective, and it is imperative that innovative and effective injury and violence prevention programs work to prevent premature deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations of children, young families, and older adults.

Local health departments (LHDs) play an important role in coordinating the broader public health system’s efforts to address the causes of injury and violence. LHDs are well suited to unite community partners to address the causes of injury- and violence-related inequities through policy, environment, and system change.

NACCHO’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program strengthens the capacity of LHDs to effectively address the causes of injury and violence in their communities by creating learning opportunities, developing tools and resources, providing technical support, and facilitating peer exchange.