INJURIES >> Injury Prevention

Injuries are classified as either intentional or unintentional. Examples of intentional injuries/deaths are: 1) suicide; 2) homicide; and, 3) assault. In your communities you may relate to these injuries or deaths as 'violence.' Unintentional injuries/deaths are caused by: 1) motor vehicle crashes; 2) drownings; 3) falls; 4) fires/burns; 5) suffocation due to food or other objects; 6) suffocations in bed, etc.

Injuries are the leading causes of death for American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) from the ages of 1 to 44. Injuries and poisonings are the fourth leading cause of hospitalizations for all AI/AN's, and the third leading cause of hospitalizations for AI/AN male patients. Of all the identified unintentional injuries, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for AI/AN's up to the age of 44.

According to the 2000-2001 Indian Health Focus, Injuries injuries and poisonings are:

• The fifth leading cause of hospitalizations for children 1 to 4 years of age.
• The third leading cause of hospitalizations for children 5 to 14 years of age.
• The second leading cause of hospitalizations for AI/AN patients 15 to 24 years of age.
• The fourth leading cause of hospitalizations for all AI/AN patients.

According to the 2000-2001 Indian Health Focus, Injuries unintentional injuries is:

• The fourth leading cause of infant death.
• The leading cause of death for children 1 to 4 years of age.
• The leading cause of death for AI/AN's 5 to 44 years of age.