Research and experience show that most injuries are entirely preventable.
Injuries are not simply "accidents" – random acts of fate or the result of carelessness – but events to be understood and prevented.
Injury, not disease, is the leading killer of our children, teens and young adults. Both intentional and unintentional injuries rank among the top 10 causes of death for every age group. In Vermont, injuries are the leading cause of death among persons aged 15 to 44 and the fifth leading cause of death among people of all ages. Each year, more than 400 Vermonters die, and thousands of others are hospitalized due to injury.
Whether they are unintentional or the result of intentional or violent acts, most injuries can be prevented with public health interventions. Knowing how to prevent suicide, properly store and dispose of medications, or prevent falls in older adults are actions that can help prevent many injuries and injury-related deaths.
