The Ohio Violence & Injury Prevention Program

The Ohio Violence & Injury Prevention Program is working toward the development of a comprehensive injury prevention program for the State of Ohio.

The OVIPP strives:

• To coordinate surveillance systems that collect injury data.
• To assess the burden of injuries and violence and communicate information for the purpose of action.
• To promote evidence-based, injury prevention interventions to at-risk populations.
• To coordinate and collaborate with partners in building program infrastructure.
• To encourage the adoption of policies and programs that lead to the prevention of injuries.
• To provide technical support and training as needed.

And ultimately, to make Ohio a safer place to live, work and play by reducing death and disability associated with intentional and unintentional injury.

The Injury Problem

Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability for Ohioans ages 1 through 44 and the fifth-leading cause of death for all age groups.  

In 2004:

• 6,234 Ohioans died from injury-related causes.
• 1,889 of these deaths were to 1 to 34-year-olds.
• There were 51,065 injury-related (diagnoses) hospital discharges.
• There were 752,463 injury-related emergency department visits.
• There were 340 firearm-related homicides and 657 firearm-related suicides.
• 1,389 Ohioans died in motor vehicle crashes.

Leading Cause of All Injury Deaths by Age, Ohio 2000 – 2004, All Races, Both Sexes

• <1 year  Suffocation
• 1 – 4      Fire/burn
• 5 – 34    Motor vehicle – unintentional
• 35 – 54   Poisoning – unintentional
• 55 – 64   Motor vehicle - unintentional
• 65+        Fall  

For Ohio, motor vehicle crashes, poisoning, falls, suicide (firearm-related), homicide (firearm-related) and suffocation are the leading causes of injury-related death.

Individuals ages 1 to 34 years are disproportionately affected by deaths from both unintentional (motor vehicle related) and intentional (suicide and homicide). For this age group, injuries account for nearly three out of every five deaths. Between 2000 and 2004, 8,568 Ohioans ages 1 to 34 years died from injury – an average of 1,713 per year. When measured in years of potential life lost (YPLL), injuries account for more than one-fourth of all premature death (YPLL before age 65) in Ohio. All injuries account for the most YPLL before age 65 and unintentional injuries alone account for the second most YPLL after cancer.

Injuries are costly. Injury prevention saves lives and money.

The consequences of injury can be far-reaching and severe. Of the millions of Ohioans who survive injuries, many suffer long-term consequences. Injury leads to huge societal costs, amounting to billions of dollars annually in health care expenses, worker compensation claims, lost productivity, rehabilitation and criminal justice system expenses among others. Investment in prevention programs prevents the much higher costs of dealing with these injury consequences.

Other Ohio Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention-related programs:

• Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Program
• Adolescent Health
• Child Fatality Review Program
• Ohio Help Me Grow

 Last Updated:8/23/2007