Many people, however, do not know the steps to take to reduce risk of injuries. Injuries are predictable and preventable. Injuries are one of the least recognized public health problems today. The costs associated with injuries are enormous, not only in direct dollar costs but, more importantly, with the loss of life and human potential. Injuries are the leading cause of death for Canadian children and youyh between the ages of 1 and 19 years.
Intentional injuries are the result of acts of violence such as suicide attempts, rape and assaults.
The cause of an injury and why the injury happened are not the same. If a child breaks her arm falling down a flight of stairs, the injury was caused by the fall. It is often assumed that the injury is the result of a person making a bad decision or taking unnecessary risks. In order to prevent injuries, strategies must address the people's behaviour as well as the physical and social environment in which injuries occur. Education focuses on raising awareness and providing information so that people can make informed decisions to reduce their risk of injury.