Injury Control Local Health Units | NEW YORK |
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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children and adults through age 44,
and are responsible for more potential life lost than cancer and heart disease combined.
Each year about 5 million New York state residents require medical attention due to
nonfatal injuries. The estimated annual expenditures for hospitalizations due to injury in
New York is approximately $1.5 billion. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
central nervous system injuries and the leading cause of unintentional injury and death in
New York.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the Injury Control Local Health Units program is to reduce the incidence of
injuries in New York, particularly those resulting from motor vehicle crashes. Specific
objectives include:
Providing services for all county residents to improve public health
Providing oversight, technical assistance, resources and materials, and guidance for
injury prevention activities in the county
Integrating injury prevention activities into existing public health programs
Establishing and maintaining community injury prevention coalitions
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The New York State Department of Health Bureau of Injury Prevention provides oversight
for the injury activities of 58 Local Health Units in the state. Each local unit's Department
of Health develops a county-specific Municipal Health Services Plan (MHSP) every two
years. The Injury Prevention and Control Section of the MHSP includes the following:
A community needs assessment and problem identification
Injury Control Local Health Units (cont'd)
Existing collaborations and activities
Needed services
A workplan for each two year cycle
The Local Health Units have an injury control coordinator who works directly with the
New York State Department of Health Injury Control Program in the development,
implementation, and evaluation of the county-specific plan. The Local Heath Units
collaborate with existing injury prevention efforts in their counties, including those in the
area of traffic safety, such as Traffic Safety Boards, STOP-DWI and Advocates.
Each local health unit MHSP is unique in that it reflects the needs of the individual
communities. The community needs assessment serves as the basis for the development of
the Injury Control and Prevention Plan to reduce the rate of injury and death among the
county residents. The significance of motor vehicle crashes throughout New York has
prompted all of the county plans to include extensive strategies for reducing traffic related
injuries. These traffic safety efforts include child safety seat distribution, bicycle helmet
distribution, occupant protection projects and pedestrian safety measures. Using Section
402 funds provided by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, training is provided for
the Local Health Unit staff in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the
traffic safety projects by the New York State Department of Health Injury Control
Program.
RESULTS
Due in part to the efforts of the Local Health Units, traffic fatalities in New York
decreased 7 percent from 1993 to 1994. The Bureau of Injury Prevention continues to
assist each of the Local Health Units reach national motor vehicle crash rate objectives.