Health Promotion Project: Injury And Violence Prevention

Health Promotion Project

By Kendrell Dublin

Devry University

Injuries and violence are widespread in society. Both unintentional injuries and those caused by acts of violence are among the top 15 killers for Americans of all ages. Many people accept them as “accidents,” “acts of fate,” or as “part of life.” However, most events resulting in injury, disability, or death are predictable and preventable. The Injury and Violence Prevention objectives for 2020 represent a broad range of issues which, if adequately addressed, will improve the health of the Nation.
Why Is Injury and Violence Prevention Important? Injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44,1 and a leading
A public health approach can help providers understand the health burden from violence, evaluate evidence for prevention strategies, and learn where to turn for information about planning and implementing prevention strategies for this preventable problem. For the past three decades, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has published “Healthy People” objectives for the next decade. The Healthy People 2020 initiative includes 13 measurable objectives related to violence prevention, one of which was selected as a Healthy People 2020 Leading Health Indicator. Progress to achieve these objectives can save thousands of lives, reduce the suffering of victims and their families, and decrease financial cost to the law enforcement and healthcare systems. The role that nurses can and do play in violence prevention is critical and extends beyond just caring for victims to also include preventing violence before it happens. This article summarizes the violence prevention objectives in Healthy People 2020 and the resources for prevention available to support nurses and others as they move prevention efforts forward in communities to stop violence before it
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Injury fact book 2001–2002. Atlanta: CDC; 2001.

Runyan CW, Casteel C, Perkis D, et al. Unintentional injuries in the home in the United States, Part I: Mortality. Am J Prev Med. 2005;28(1):73-9.

Doll LS, Bonzo SE, Mercy JA, et al., editors. Handbook of injury and violence prevention. New York: Springer; 2007. Chapter 14, Changing the built environment to prevent injury; p. 257-76.

Mercy JA, Mack KA, Steenkamp M. Changing the social environment to prevent injuries. Chapter 15 in Handbook of injury and violence prevention (pp 277-94). Doll LS, Bonzo SE, Mercy JA, et al., editors. New York: Springer;