These policy recommendations will be limited to those that primarily address unintentional injuries. Intentional injuries will be addressed in a future, separate section. Injuries are an especially serious problem among the young. For every death there are scores of nonfatal injuries that cause permanent disabilities or disfigurement. Each year in the United States 1 in 5 children receives medical care as a result of an injury.
Injuries have causes.
They are predictable and preventable. Random events and bad luck cannot be prevented. The term injury refers to an adverse health outcome, such as a leg fracture, rather than an event such as a motor vehicle crash. This distinction is important. Although it may be impossible to prevent all adverse events, it is often possible to prevent the adverse consequences of unavoidable events.