DHSS Press Release

DPH RELEASES STRATEGIC PLAN FOR INJURY PREVENTION

Goals include reducing brain and spinal cord injuries, traffic fatalities, falls, gun injuries and dog bites

To help Delawareans improve the safety of their homes, highways, and communities, Delaware's Division of Public Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services and the Delaware Coalition for Injury Prevention announce the release of the Strategic Plan for Injury Prevention, 2005-2010. The publication focuses on prevention of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, injuries due to motor vehicle crashes, poisoning, falls, suicides, drowning, firearms, fires, and dog bites in Delaware. The goal of the plan is to decrease death and disability in Delaware by teaching people to use safety practices and decrease risk-taking behaviors.

Falls are the leading cause of non-fatal, unintentional injuries and emergency department visits for children younger than 15. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of serious injuries and injury-related deaths in the U.S. Through analysis of Delaware motor vehicle crash data, the top three highway safety priority areas are occupant protection, impaired driving and aggressive driving. The objective is to reduce traffic fatalities on Delaware roads through high visibility enforcement of traffic laws and enhanced public awareness initiatives. Specific goals include:

• Increasing seat belt use from 82 percent in 2004 to 85 percent in 2006
• Reducing alcohol-related fatalities from 34 percent in 2004 to 32 percent in 2006
• Reducing fatal crashes resulting from aggressive driving from 55 percent in 2004 to 50 percent in 2006

Additionally, the Strategic Plan for Injury Prevention is aligned with the Healthy Delaware 2010 goal of reducing traffic fatalities from 16 per 100,000 population to 12 per 100,000 population. Other highlights of the plan include:

• Injuries to the brain and spinal cord are the most frequent type of injury and the leading reason for death and disability from injury in children and young adults. Nearly all of these injuries are preventable.
• Reducing firearm injuries, assaults and homicides. In Delaware, firearms continue to rank as the leading method of homicide and a leading method for suicide. A recent study showed that over half of all gun-owning parents store their firearms loaded and unlocked. According to the Delaware Child Death Review, when a gun is in the home, 75 percent of children know where it is kept.
• Reduce the incidence of dog bites in Delaware by educating the public to "avoid all unknown animals and teach your children too" and through messages encouraging responsible pet ownership.

DPH's injury prevention program is committed to supporting statewide injury prevention efforts through surveillance, training, technical support, community partnerships, supporting intervention development at multiple levels and evaluating effectiveness. For a copy of the Strategic Plan for Injury Prevention 2005-2010 visit our website at http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/pubs2.html

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.