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
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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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