Injuries are a serious public health problem in Idaho; especially for our children. Injuries are the leading cause of death for Idahoans ages 1 to 34. To better educate Idahoans how to protect their families from the physical, emotional and economic burden of injury, the Injury Prevention & Surveillance Program (IPSP) offers prevention information on several causes of injury including: poisoning, drowning, falls, motor vehicle crashes, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.
One of the greatest obstacles in reducing injury in Idaho is the mindset that "accidents just happen;" that they are "inevitable." We now know that the causes of injury are both predictable and preventable. By working together with community coalitions, policy makers, public health educators, physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals, we can reduce the burden of injury and violence in Idaho.
The goals of IPSP are to:
- reduce the death, disability, and unnecessary healthcare costs to Idaho residents as a result of unintentional and violent injury
- enhance the development of a sustainable injury prevention and control program to become a proactive and influential focus for reducing injury in Idaho.
- develop an injury surveillance system that will store information on planning, implementing, and evaluating statewide injury prevention efforts.
- develop an injury prevention plan with statewide partners, stakeholders and decision makers that will help reduce injuries.