Every year on November 18, communities across the country celebrate National Injury Prevention Day (NIPD), a day dedicated to raising awareness about the preventable nature of traumatic injuries and the importance of safety in our homes, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
What is National Injury Prevention Day?
National Injury Prevention Day is a nationwide initiative led by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, in partnership with organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, Safe Kids Worldwide, and the American Trauma Society.
On this day, trauma centers and landmarks across the U.S. are illuminated in green to symbolize a shared commitment to injury prevention and community safety.
Injuries, both intentional and unintentional, are the leading cause of death for people ages 1 to 44 in the United States. Yet, many of these injuries are entirely preventable through education, awareness, and proactive safety measures.
Why it matters: The impact of traumatic injury
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, trauma is the number one cause of death for children ages 1 to 18 in the U.S.
Additional data from the CDC shows:
- Fatal injury rates among children rose from 14.07 per 100,000 in 2011 to 17.30 per 100,000 in 2021.
- Nonfatal injuries continue to account for millions of emergency department visits each year.
These numbers highlight the urgent need for prevention-focused programs that address the root causes of injury and trauma in our communities.
Hennepin Healthcare’s role in injury prevention
As a Level I Trauma Center for both adults and pediatrics, Hennepin Healthcare meets the highest standards of trauma care, as verified by the American College of Surgeons. This designation not only reflects our ability to provide comprehensive trauma care 24/7 but also requires us to maintain a robust trauma prevention program.
Our prevention efforts are data-driven and focused on the most common and severe injuries affecting our community. These include:
- Community-focused injury prevention programs
- Fall prevention education for older adults
- Motor vehicle crash prevention education
- Safe swimming practices education
- Senior injury prevention initiatives
- Stop the Bleed classes for bleeding control and emergency response
- Violence and firearm injury prevention
- Child and family safety initiatives
- Annual Baby Safety Shower promoting safe sleep and home safety
- Bike helmet giveaways at community clinics and events
- Car seat distribution and education program
- Participation in metro-area Safety Camps
- Resources for new immigrant families to support safe transitions
And much more, as we continue to expand our efforts to meet the evolving needs of our community.
How you can get involved
On November 18, we invite you to join us in promoting injury prevention:
- Wear green to show your support
- Follow and share our safety messages on social media using #BeInjuryFree on the 18th and throughout the year
- Visit our trauma prevention website for resources and more information
- Talk with your family about safety.
Together, we can build a safer, healthier future, one step at a time.
