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Learn How to Prevent an Injury

3 min read  |  November 09, 2022  | 
Boy with Arm in Cast after an injury

Injuries remain the leading cause of death and disability to U.S. children from 1 to 18 years of age. From bicycle-related incidents to falls, an estimated 6,000 children and teens died because of unintentional injuries in 2020.

Overall, injuries have decreased in the past years as families learn more about how to keep children safe.  But, there has been an increase in some causes of injury, such as suffocation, motor vehicle crashes, and poisoning.

Importantly, these causes of injuries affect families of color and minority groups even more. It is time to start changing those statistics, and we know exactly how you can help.

The Injury Free Coalition for Kids and other injury prevention organizations across the country have teamed together to provide our county’s families with information about the dangers of child injury.

Join the Conversation

Injury prevention Twitter Chat

Jackson Health System and the Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Miami will be participating in a conversation on WMBM AM 1490 with Dr. Hector Chavez, Medical Director, Pediatric Emergency Department Jackson Memorial Hospital.  Please listen on November 15.  Click here to listen.

Also, our national partner, the Injury free Coalition for Kids is hosting a 1-hour Twitter live chat on November 18 at 1 p.m. EST. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #BeInjuryFree to learn more about how you can play a role in preventing injuries. Chat with professionals and other parents and share your thoughts with the community. Click here for more information.

Poster for National Injury Prevention Day 2022

Shine a Green Light

Many organizations across the country are joining together on November 18 and shining a green light on local buildings and monuments.  Locally, the Diagnostic Treatment Center (DTC) and Jackson Memorial Hospital will light its escalators and signs green to shine a light on injury prevention in our own community. 

Find out what Miami is doing to protect its children:

  • The Injury Free Coalition for Kids Injury-Free Miami of Miami at Jackson Health System and the University of Miami Health System have created educational programs to create safer living spaces for children. Programs include home safety, water safety, passenger safety, fire safety, and more. Programs are offered in English, Spanish, and Creole. Find more information at org.
  • BikeSafe: BikeSafe is a program from the University of Miami KiDZ Neuroscience Center, part of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. Dedicated to preventing brain and spinal cord injuries as a result of bicycle-related accidents, BikeSafe provides educational curriculums in schools and parks. Click here for more information.
  • WalkSafe: WalkSafe is another program from the University of Miami KiDZ Neuroscience Center, part of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. They provide educational curriculums to schools and also promote safe physical activity for children in Miami. Find more information here.
  • Get the facts: Miami Dade Matters has a lot of great information for parents, including a State-by-State Injury Prevention Report for those interested in learning more.

For more information about how to keep your child safe, call us at the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a program of the Children’s Trust at 305-243-9080 or visit www.injuryfree.org.

Written by Adriana Baez, M.D./J.D. candidate at the Miller School of Medicine,
with Julie Belkowitz, M.D., M.P.H.,
and Lyse Deus, Oneith Cadiz, M.D.

Originally published on: November 15, 2021

Tags: child safety, injury prevention, national injury prevention day

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