ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
Research on older adult motor vehicle-
and fall-related injuries —
A CDC study found that from 1990 through
1998, motor vehicle- and fall-related death rates among adults age 65
and older varied by sex, race, and ethnicity. Both motor vehicle- and fall-related
death rates were higher among men. Motor vehicle-related death rates
were highest among Native American and African American men, while
women’s rates were highest among Native Americans and Asian/Pacific
Islanders. Death rates from falls were highest among whites, with the
annual relative increase in deaths from falls 3.8% for both men and
women (Stevens and Dellinger 2002).
World Health Organization:
World Report
on Road Traffic Injury Prevention —
CDC researchers participated with the
World Health Organization (WHO) in planning, developing, and writing
this report—the first major report jointly issued by the WHO and the World
Bank on the subject of road traffic injuries. The report underscores the
concern that unsafe road traffic systems (drivers, roads, and vehicles)
seriously harm global public health and development. The authors contend
that the level of road traffic injury is unacceptable and largely
avoidable. The World Report on Road Traffic Injury Prevention was
published on April 7, 2004, in conjunction with World Health Day (seepage
16 for more about this event) (Peden et al. 2004).
Research on nonfatal drownings at recreational water sites —
CDC scientists published the first
national estimate for nonfatal drowning injuries treated in emergency
departments in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). In the
United States in 2001 and 2002, more than 4,100 people sought care in an
emergency department each year for nonfatal drowning injuries, with more
than half requiring hospital admission or transfer for higher levels of
care. Children age 4years and younger and males of all ages were at the
greatest risk. The most common locations of nonfatal injuries for the
very young children were residential pools. As children grew older, more
injuries occurred in natural water settings. The study also confirmed that
injuries happen most often on weekends and during summer months—times
when people typically enjoy water-related activities (Gilchrist, Gotsch,
and Ryan 2004).
Disseminating child safety products in urban communities
—
With CDC support, the hospital-based Children’s Safety Center at Johns
Hopkins University has launched a traveling Mobile Safety Center. The
Mobile Safety Center van travels to clinics and selected sites serving
low-income families to conduct safety interventions and provide safety
products (smoke alarms, cabinet latches, stair gates, car seats, etc.). The project has developed training materials, educator protocols, and
exhibits to be used by the Mobile Safety Center and the Children’s
Safety Center clinic. Researchers are evaluating this
dissemination strategy compared with others that are clinic
based.
Evaluation of an alternative warm-up program —
CDC, in
collaboration with the National Collegiate Athletic Association,
the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the International Federation
of Football Associations, and the Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports
Medicine Research Foundation is conducting a randomized controlled trial
of an alternative warm-up program to prevent anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) injuries in female soccer players. This research involves
implementing and evaluating a physical training program specifically designed to reduce
the risk of ligamentous knee injuries by incorporating proven
neuromuscular and proprioceptive training concepts into a concise on-field warm-up
activity. Behavioral science and injury research —Behavioral science
research activities are part of CDC’s effort to identify promising,
innovative, and inter-disciplinary approaches to injury prevention. This
initiative began in 1998 with an expert meeting on behavioral science and
unintentional injury prevention. Since then, CDC’s Injury Center has
cosponsored or assisted in producing several special issues and journal
supplements about behavioral science and health education in injury
prevention, reaching more than20,000 professionals in the field (Gielen
2002; Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center 2003; Liller and
Sleet2004; Schwartz 2003; Sleet and Bryn 2003). In addition, CDC compiled
the Bibliography of Behavioral Science Research in Unintentional Injury
Prevention (2004) that contains more than 900 research citations
combining behavioral science with unintentional injury prevention.
Designed as a tool for researchers, practitioners, and students, the
Bibliography is available as a CD-ROM and also can be found
online (www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/behavioral).
