San Diego Safety and Injury Prevention

Sharp on Survival: Institute for Injury and Violence Prevention

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans currently have long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI)
  • Recent data shows that, on average, approximately 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States
  • Unintentional injuries continue to be the fifth leading cause of death overall, exceeded only by heart disease, cancer, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases
  • The most common causes of injuries seen in emergency departments are from traffic accidents, falls and violence
  • Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 21
  • Every hour someone dies in the US because they were not wearing a seat belt during an automobile crash

Sharp HealthCare's injury and violence prevention program, Sharp On Survival, works with schools, businesses, community organizations, legislators and other health care providers to prevent injury and violence, especially among youth most at risk. Sharp on Survival's model of prevention incorporates education in the schools, community involvement, advocacy and research to reduce injury and violence in our community.

Last Updated: October 29, 2009