injury preventioN Program

Injuries are not accidents. Injuries may occur quickly, but they are PREDICTABLE and PREVENTABLE!  According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year nearly 150,000 Americans die from injuries, making injury the leading cause of death among children and young adults and a significant problem for Americans of all ages. Nonfatal injuries account for approximately 114 million physician office visits and 25% of all emergency department examinations.

Injuries can be intentional-the result from someone trying to injure themselves or someone else (i.e. violence and suicide). Injuries may also be unintentional-the result of an event that was not planned or deliberate (i.e. falls, drowning, burns, bicycle or motor vehicular crashes).

Injury prevention is the prevention of both intentional and unintentional injuries from occurring in the first place. Kitsap County Health District uses a public health approach to injury prevention. This approach looks at risk factors including: individual behavior, environmental hazards, unsafe products and societal behavior and values.

The Injury Prevention Program provides educational materials, information, consultation and technical assistance on a variety of intentional and unintentional injuries in Kitsap County:

• Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety
• Water Safety and Drowning Prevention
• Safe Storage of Firearms
• Motor Vehicle Crash Prevention
• Suicide Awareness and Prevention
• General Injury Prevention

Program Contacts

Barbara Smithson (360) 337-5250
Community Liaison
Injury Prevention
smithb@health.co.kitsap.wa.us