Injuries and violence endanger the health of people all over the world; they account for 9% of the worldwide total death rate. Over 5 million people die every year in consequence of an injury or violence. Out of fifteen most frequent death causes of people aged between 15 and 29, eight is connected with an injury of some kind. This includes road accidents, suicides, murders, drowning, burns, war injuries, intoxications, and falls.
These fatalities are then accompanied by dozens of hospitalized and thousands of injured patients treated in the outpatient care. Many of those who survived a serious injury are permanently or temporarily damaged. The current accident rate increasing trend is alarming. Unless we introduce effective prevention, the global burden of injuries will grow in the future decades. In the European Union (EU-27) 257,000 people die of injuries and violence every year. Injuries and violence constitute the forth most frequent cause of death after heart and vascular diseases, tumours, and respiratory diseases. In the group of children and young adults aged up to 45, injuries and violence are the most frequent cause of death. 7.4 million of the EU population are hospitalized and 60 million seek outpatient care. In some parts of the world injuries are recognized as the problem no. 1 of the public health sector. Injuries represent an extreme burden to the healthcare costs and to the social system; the prevention of injuries and violence is therefore promoted. Demonstrably effective prevention programs can reduce the number of deaths and the severity of injuries including their permanent consequences. |
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