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Childhood Injuries in the United States

NCJ Number
150188
Journal
American Journal of Diseases of Children Volume: 144 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 627-646
Author(s)
J G Rodriguez; S T Brown
Date Published
1990
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Childhood injuries are a major public health problem in the United States, causing more deaths than all diseases combined, and are beginning to become a priority for prevention and control.
Abstract
In 1986, more than 22,000 children aged 0 to 19 years died of injuries in the United States. More than 30,000 children are estimated to suffer permanent disabilities from injuries each year. Injuries are mistakenly called accidents, but injuries, like disease, occur in highly predictable patterns and are controllable. Priority areas are motor vehicle crashes, homicide, assault, child abuse, drowning and near-drowning, collisions between pedestrians and vehicles, and fires and burns. Program and budget priorities should include strengthening of lead public health agencies in injury prevention and control at the Federal, State, and local levels; the establishment of injury surveillance systems; research on how better to control the problem; training of health professionals and other scientists in injury prevention and control; and increased public information efforts. Figures, tables, notes, and 38 references