Violence and Injury Prevention

The Violence and Injury Prevention Section of the Florida Department of Health is supported by Section 401.243, Florida Statutes, with the responsibility for statewide coordination and expansion of injury prevention activities, including data collection, education, and interventions.

In addition, the Violence and Injury Prevention Section is responsible for the state plan to address injury prevention. This plan serves as the Injury Safety and Violence Priority Area of the State Health Improvement Plan. SHIP ISV PLAN

The term “injury” includes intentional actions to cause harm, such as domestic violence pr bullying, and unintentional actions resulting in harm that was not intended, such as drowning, motor vehicle crashes, falls or burns.

Key injury-related Florida facts:

• In 2023 unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death among Florida residents ages 1-44 (Mortality Dashboard) and the fourth leading cause of death overall after heart disease, cancer, and stroke.
• Suicide is the 9th leading cause of death overall among Florida Residents. (Leading Causes of Death Profile).
• In 2023 (the most current national injury data), Florida’s age-adjusted injury rate for all injuries (87.75) was 2.76 percent higher than the national rate (85.39). Florida's rates were 5.37 percent higher than the national average for unintentional injuries and 1.37 percent lower for violence-related injuries.
• Compared with the nation's six most populous states, Florida's injury death rates were highest in the following categories: unintentional injuries, motor vehicle traffic, drowning among ages 0-9, pedestrian, and pedal cyclist.
• Injuries and violence can have an economic impact in the United States. “ In 2022 in Florida unintentional injuries cost 148.13 billion dollars, suicide cost 35.28 billion, and homicide cost 15.91 billion.” (CDC WISQARS - Cost of Injury)
• Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal unintentional injury among Florida residents ages 65+. In 2023 3,989 older adults were fatally injured due to an unintentional fall.

Florida's Need for Injury Prevention

This 2023 Florida Injury Profile provides an at-a-glance-look at how Florida injury rates compare nationally and with other states:

Notes:

*Rate may be unstable if based on a total of fewer than 20 events.

** Pedestrian and pedal cyclist categories include motor vehicle traffic and nontraffic categories.

For more information, visit FL Health CHARTS.

Violence and Injury Prevention Section Partnerships 

The Violence and Injury Prevention Section collaborates with partners throughout the state to address injury prevention priorities across the life span.

Water Safety
With the many pools, waterways, lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water in Florida, and being surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, water safety is key to preventing drownings for visitors and residents alike. Sadly, Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1-4 years. WaterSmartFL believes water safety Is everyone’s responsibility. The Water smart FL Task Force brings together professionals from multiple agencies and organizations to develop education initiatives for parents, caregivers, and communities about drowning risks and prevention strategies. The Water Smart FL campaign promotes use of multiple actions to increase safety and reduce childhood drowning, including constant supervision, fences, locks, alarms and other barriers and emergency preparedness. Water Smart Florida serves as the home of the Swim Lesson Voucher Program. You can find a registration link to become a participating swim instructor or to apply for a voucher (based on income eligibility), along with resources and additional information on water safety at WaterSmartFL.com.

Drowning is preventable. Yet sadly, Florida was ranked 2nd in the U.S. for unintentional drowning deaths (rate 2.35 per 100,000 population) among children ages 0 to 17 years of age in 2023, behind Alabama (2.39 per 100,000).

• Annually, the children under the age of 5 lost to drowning (78 in 2021, 68 in 2022, and 78 in 2023) could fill 4 preschool classrooms. Fatal Injuries Profile.
• Florida was ranked 4th in the U.S. for unintentional drowning deaths among all ages in 2023 with an age-adjusted rate of 2.16 per 100,000 population, behind Alaska (4.09), Hawaii (2.55), and Louisiana (2.20) (CDC national injury data).
• Florida was ranked 4th in the U.S. in 2023 for unintentional drowning deaths for adults 18+ years of age (rate 2.16 per 100,000 population), behind Alaska (5.38), Hawaii (3.15), and Louisiana (2.28) during the same year (CDC national injury data).
• From 2020 – 2023 combined, Florida was ranked the highest in the U.S. for unintentional drowning death rate among children ages 1 to 4 years (7.48 per 100,000 population). Florida had the highest unintentional drowning death rate of 3.66 per 100,000 population among children 0 to 9 years of age compared to other U.S. states (CDC national injury data).
• Learn more about Florida’s commitment to water safety and drowning prevention at watersmartfl.com.

Child Injury Prevention
The mission of Safe Kids Florida is to prevent and reduce the number of unintentional injuries and deaths of Florida’s children. Local Safe Kids coalitions provide leadership in their communities to prioritize and expand efforts to address child passenger safety, teen driver safety, water safety, heat safety, bike and pedestrian safety, sudden infant death prevention and others. The statewide Safe Kids Coordinator liaisons with Safe Kids World Wide and provides technical assistance and training to local coalitions.

Dog Bite Prevention
Everyone – children and adults – should learn to be safe around dogs. While dogs are often introduced as a family member, even the friendliest dog may snap or bite when hurt of scared. Key strategies include respecting a dog’s space, avoiding direct eye contact, and remaining calm if approached by an unfamiliar dog.

Additionally, healthy families include healthy pets. See the CDC webpage with more on Dogs | Healthy Pets, Healthy People | CDC.

The chance of a dog having rabies in the U.S. is very low. While rabies is 100% preventable with vaccination, it is still a concern for unvaccinated or under-vaccinated dogs and those who come into contact with wild animals. In the U.S., most rabies cases in dogs are linked to unvaccinated animals or encounters with wildlife reservoirs like raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes.

• See Rabies Prevention Tips for more information.
• QuickStats: Bite or Struck by Dog Fatalities.

Motor Vehicle Traffic Safety
Each year, Florida welcomes many drivers on our roadways. Motor vehicle traffic safety includes a broad range of activities to reduce the risk of injuries on our highways and community streets. Safety education including child passenger safety, pedestrian safety, bicycle safety, driving under the influence and distracted driving is supported through multiple partners. Safe Kids coalitions, the Florida Occupant Protection Coalition, and Teen Driver Safety Coalition, together with emergency medical services and local, county and state law enforcement agencies, collaborate to reduce injury outcomes. The Florida Department of Transportation provides funding and resources for road safety initiatives.

Older Adult Falls Prevention
Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury death among Florida residents ages 65 years and older and the second leading cause of injury death overall. In addition, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injury-related hospital admissions in Florida. Under the State Health Improvement Plan, the Falls Free Coalition was created, and is currently coordinated by Area Agencies on Aging.

• Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal unintentional injury among Florida residents ages 65+. There were 3,989 older adults fatally injured due to an unintentional fall in 2023.
• Emergency Medical Services respond to thousands of calls related to older falls per year. Falls can be prevented. Take the Falls Free Checkup to learn your risk for falls and resources for safety.
• Visit the Still Going Strong site for more information for caregivers, educators and healthcare providers on preventing injuries among older adults.

Suicide Prevention
Suicide is tragic and can cause emotional, physical and economic impacts, beyond the loss of family, for loved ones. Suicide is also often preventable. Florida Department of Health is committed to collaborating with our sister agencies to build strong communities, families, support systems and resources for Florida. The Department of Children and Families facilitates the Suicide Prevention Coordinating Council, tasked with developing statewide strategies for preventing suicide. The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs implements the Florida Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Veterans, Servicemembers and Families.

Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, affecting people across multiple age groups.

• 3,558 people died by suicide in Florida in 2023 Mortality Dashboard.
• 7,376 hospitalizations occurred for non-fatal self-harm Non-Fatal Injury Hospitalizations Profile.
• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among Florida residents for ages 5-14, and 15-24; and the second leading cause of death for ages 25-34 Mortality Dashboard. Ages 75-84 have the highest suicide rate Fatal Injuries Profile.

Suicide rates vary by race/ethnicity, age, and other factors. The highest suicide rates are among non-Hispanic White populations and American Indian/Alaska Native populations. Other Americans with higher-than-average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations, like mining and construction. For more information se the CDC Suicide Prevention page - CDC - Facts About Suicide.

Violence Prevention
Violence takes many forms, including intimate partner violence, sexual violence, trafficking, child maltreatment, bullying, suicidal behavior, and elder abuse and neglect. These forms of violence are often interconnected. They can also all take place under one roof, or in a given community or neighborhood, and can happen at the same time or at different stages of life. Understanding the overlapping causes of violence and the things that can protect people and communities can help us address violence in all its forms. Through the Injury, Safety and Violence Priority Area, partners including agencies, coalitions, organizations and subject matter experts work together to identify common factors and community approaches to addressing violence.

• In the United States, about 43.6% of women and 24.8% of men experienced some form of sexual violence in their lifetime, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence survey.
• In 2023, Florida’s rate of sexual violence 29.9 per 100,000 people. This is the 11th lowest rate in the nation. Alaska (118.4), Arkansas (72.3), Michigan (58.9), Colorado (58.7) and Oklahoma (58.6) have the highest rates.
• Girls who are sexually abused are more likely to suffer physical violence and sexual re-victimization, engage in self-harming behavior, and be a victim of intimate partner violence later in life. CDC Connecting the Dots.

Youth Sports Concussions
Contact sports, including football, basketball, and soccer, are associated with 45% of all emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions among children ages 17 and under.

Bicycling and playground activities are also associated with high numbers of emergency department visits for TBIs and concussions among children.

•  Contact sports, including football, basketball, and soccer, are associated with 45% of all emergency department visits for sports- and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions among children ages 17 and under.
• Bicycling and playground activities are also associated with high numbers of emergency department visits for TBIs and concussions among children. Data on Sports and Recreation Activities | HEADS UP | CDC.

For more information visit the Youth Sports Concussions page. For Data on Sports and Recreation Activities visit the CDC's HEADS UP site.