Injury and Violence Prevention

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Injuries are the 5th leading cause of death in New Hampshire. Someone dies of an injury every 20 hours in New Hampshire and many more are incapacitated by injuries or suffer lifelong disabilities. Injuries include trauma from intentional acts such as assaults and suicide, as well as from motor vehicle crashes, fires, firearms, drowning, suffocation, falls, poisonings, and other unintentional events. Thirty-three percent of injury deaths are classified as intentional and 67% as unintentional. Suicide is the leading cause of injury death in New Hampshire (see Mental Health). 
     Injuries are not “accidents;” injuries are predictable and preventable. Decreasing injuries requires the combined efforts of health, education, transportation, law, engineering, and safety science professionals, faith and community leaders, and families. 

Objective: 
Reduce fall injury deaths for adults age 65 and older (per 100,000 population).

	NH Baseline 1997-1998	29.2 deaths15
	US Baseline 1998	27.9 deaths26
	NH Target 2010	23.3 deaths

Falls are the third leading cause of injury death in New Hampshire. For those 65 years of age and older, falls are the eighth leading cause of death and the most frequent cause of injury hospitalizations. In 1998, 68 deaths resulted from falls in this age group. 

Objective: 
Reduce motor vehicle occupant deaths (per 100,000 population).

	NH Baseline 1997-1998	6.8 deaths15
	US Baseline 1998	15.0 deaths6
	NH Target 2010	5.4 deaths

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury death in New Hampshire. The youngest and the oldest drivers have the highest risk of death from motor vehicle crashes. Among those 15 through 19 years of age, the rate is 15.0 deaths per 100,000, and among those 75 years of age and older, the rate is 18.6 deaths per 100,000 population. Many motor vehicle related fatalities can be prevented by proper use of seat belts and child safety restraints and by enforcement of laws regarding intoxicated drivers. 

Objective: 
Reduce firearms deaths (per 100,000 population).

	NH Baseline 1997-1998	7.1 deaths15
	US Baseline 1997	12.1 deaths6
	NH Target 2010	4.9 deaths

Fifty-six percent of suicide deaths between 1996 and 1998 were by firearms. Domestic violence deaths are often firearms related. Proper storage of firearms in the home and restricting access to firearms by children and youth are both critical factors in the reduction of firearms deaths. Restricting access to firearms for those with a domestic violence or other criminal history, depressed individuals, and intoxicated individuals, can help reduce the risk of assault with firearms and intentional self-inflicted and unintentional shootings.

Objective: 
Reduce physical assault injury (outpatient and ER discharges/100,000 population).

	NH Baseline 1998	262.0 injuries15
	US Baseline	NA
	NH Target 2010	209.6 injuries

Violence claims the lives of many Americans. The elderly, women, and children are often targets of both physical and sexual assaults, which are frequently perpetrated by individuals they know. Poverty, intolerance, alcohol and other drugs, lack of education, and lack of employment opportunities are important risk factors for violence and must be addressed as part of any comprehensive solution to violence in New Hampshire. Effective strategies for reducing violence begin early in life, before violent attitudes and behaviors are witnessed and modeled. 

Objective: 
Reduce unintentional injury, excluding motor vehicle occupant injury, of children and adolescents (inpatient discharges/100,000 population age 0-19 years of age).

	NH Baseline 1998	146.5 injuries15
	US Baseline	NA
	NH Target 2010	117.2 injuries

Children and young adults are disproportionately affected by unintentional injuries. Falls are a significant cause of non-fatal injury among children and adolescents. Bicycle and pedestrian accidents, cuts, being struck, bites, poisoning, and burns also contribute to unintentional injury requiring hospitalization.

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