Why are unintentional injuries and violence important public health issues?
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 44 and, according to the CDC, each year’s injuries have an estimated lifetime cost of $406 billion in medical expenses and lost productivity. Unintentional injuries are preventable, and can be caused by falling, motor vehicle crashes, unintentional drug overdose, fire and fireworks, and drowning, among other causes. Intentional injuries, or the deliberate attempt to hurt oneself or others, are also an important public health issue. Suicide and homicide are both among the leading causes of death among teens and adults, and homicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children. Annually, more than 1.3 million injuries are the result of assault. Child maltreatment, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and neglect, result in the deaths of more than 1,500 children under age 18 and more than 900,000 children younger than age 17 were confirmed by social services to be victims of maltreatment in 2006. In
