Maternal and Child Health Issue Brief #5: Child and Youth Injury in Colorado
Unintentional injuries suffered by children and youth vary by age, environment, and gender of children and
youth, among geographies and community systems. Understanding risk and protective factors related to
injury can help parents, children and youth, and systems prevent unintentional injury.
Creating environments that minimize hazard protect children and youth who take developmentally-appropriate risks. Wearing recommended safety gear—like bicycle helmets—utilizing bike lanes, building safe spaces for sporting and walking, and parental/adult monitoring, among other protective measures, reduce accidental
injury.
Why is child and youth injury an issue in Colorado?
Injuries are the leading cause of death among Coloradans ages 1-24. Preventable, unintentional injuries resulted in 248 deaths in 2011, 40 percent of all deaths of children and youth ages 1-24.1 The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) addresses injury prevention by aligning with Colorado’s Winnable Battles #2 and setting state goals and priorities.
COLORADO GOALS & PRIORITIES
By 2016, reduce the percentage of
9-12th
graders who report
attempting suicide in previous
12 months to 5%.
By 2015, reduce youth motor
vehicle fatalities to 10.5 fatalities
per 100,000 youth ages 15-19.
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