Injury Prevention

Mission

We prevent injuries by empowering state and local coalitions through the provision of data, training, and leadership, and the leveraging of resources for prevention programs.

The Problem of Injuries

  • Injuries in Georgia cause an average of 4,750 deaths per year
  • Between 1999 and 2001, unintentional injuries:
    • accounted for an average of 3,147 deaths per year
    • and were the 4th leading cause of death in Georgia
  • Combined, unintentional and intentional injuries accounted for 80% of all deaths among persons ages 15-24 years
  • Injury-related hospitalizations cost nearly $668 million in hospital charges per year.

The Injury Prevention Section is housed within the Georgia Department of Human Resources/Division of Public Health (DHR/DPH), under the Safety and Protection Unit, Office of Preparedness and Trauma. The main functions of the Section include:

  • the provision of technical assistance in program evaluation and coalition building to local community groups
  • the provision of injury data to community groups and the public at large
  • the distribution of safety equipment such as child safety seats, bike helmets, smoke detectors and the dissemination of knowledge on proper use of safety equipment, and
  • the provision of general support to local coalition in helping promote safe and injury free life styles and behaviors.

These injury prevention activities are primarily grant-driven with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state's Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration being the major funders.

Current Program Areas

  • Child Occupant Safety Interventions and Education

    The program focuses on the prevention of injury through child safety seat education and the hands-on training of parents and caregivers. By utilizing collaborative relationships with community stakeholders the program seeks to promote sustainability.

  • Residential Fire Prevention

    The program reduces fire related injuries and deaths by working with fire departments to install smoke alarms in high-risk housing. Participating fire departments identify high-risk areas within their jurisdictions canvas those areas, install smoke alarms and provide fire safety education.

  • Violence Against Women (VAW)

    The program focuses on reducing Violence Against Women in Georgia. By working collaboratively with community partners, the program develops initiatives that strengthen and support the prevention network. The goal of these initiatives, which include education and empowerment, is to help women across Georgia reclaim their lives and participate fully in society.

  • Suicide Prevention

    The program focuses on bringing together key stakeholders to form statewide and local coalitions to address the prevention of suicide and self inflicted injury in Georgia. The initiatives include providing data to document the seriousness of the problem, supporting coalitions’ to plan and develop efforts to increase their communities’ awareness through education and developing and planning the implementation of evidence based prevention programs for the most at-risk populations.

  • Shaken Baby Syndrome

    Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the medical term used to describe the results from violently shaking an infant or young child. These injuries can include: brain swelling and damage, subdural hemorrhage (bleeding inside the brain), mental retardation, blindness, seizures, paralysis, and death. The whiplash action created by shaking causes the brain to bounce around inside the baby’s skull, tearing blood vessels and nerves. SBS often results from a caregiver’s momentary lapse in judgment, or as a pattern of abuse to the child.

  • Core Capacity

    The program focuses on establishing a coordinated state injury program to effectively address the burden of injuries in Georgia. The program focuses on the development of the five core components of model state injury programs as defined by the State and Territorial Injury Prevention Director's Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

  • Dog Bite Prevention and Education

    The dog bite prevention program was funded through a three-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The goal of the program was to develop and evaluate a comprehensive community-based dog bite prevention program in Bulloch, Chatham and Effingham counties. Dog bite prevention resources developed through this program are available to agencies and organizations throughout Georgia.

Injury Prevention Partners

The Injury Prevention Section works closely with its partners to fulfill its mission of reducing injuries to Georgia’s citizens. These partners provide valuable input to the direction and work of the IPS through the Georgia Injury Prevention Planning Group.

Community Partners

  • Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission

  • Georgia Children’s Trust Fund Commission

  • Georgia Commission on Family Violence

  • Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

  • Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning

  • Georgia Department of Education

  • Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation

  • Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's Office

  • Georgia Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers

  • Georgia Office of Child Fatality Review

  • Governor’s Office of Highway Safety

  • Georgia Poison Center

  • Prevent Child Abuse Georgia

  • SAFE KIDS of Georgia

    • Georgia Department of Human Resources

    Academic Partners
    National Partners

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