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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Injury Prevention
Contact the Violence and Injury Prevention Section
- 850-245-4455
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Mailing Address
Violence and Injury Prevention Section
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin A13
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Florida's Need for Injury Prevention
Florida's Violence and Injury Prevention Section (VIPS)
Family Fire Safety Plan
Make Safe Happen App
What is Injury?
Injury is defined as “physical harm or damage to someone’s body.” Whether intentional or unintentional, injuries can be predicted and prevented.
Unintentional injuries include those that result from motor vehicle collisions (including those that involve pedestrians and bicyclists), drownings, falls, firearms, and recreational and sports-related activities.
Intentional injuries result from interpersonal or self-inflicted violence, and include homicide, assaults, suicide and suicide attempts, child abuse and neglect (including child sexual abuse), intimate partner violence, elder abuse and sexual assault.
Florida's Need for Injury Prevention
In 2022 unintentional injuries were the leading cause of death among Florida residents ages 1-44 and the third leading cause of death overall after heart disease and cancer. Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death overall among Florida Residents. (Leading Causes of Death Profile - Florida Health CHARTS - Florida Department of Health | CHARTS (flhealthcharts.gov)
In 2021 (most current national injury data), Florida’s age-adjusted injury rate for all injuries (96.17) was 8.89 percent higher than the national rate (88.32). Florida's rates were 15.12 percent higher than the national average for unintentional injuries and 4.3 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 injures, motor vehicle traffic, drowning among ages 0-9, pedestrian, and pedal cyclist.
| Injury-Related Fatality Rates, 2020 | ||||||||
| US | FL | CA | TX | NY | PA | IL | FL vs. US | |
All Injuries | 88.32 | 96.17 | 67.56 | 73.50 | 61.14 | 97.26 | 80.59 | 8.89% |
Unintentional Injuries | 64.12 | 73.92 | 50.22 | 50.10 | 46.63 | 72.91 | 56.22 | 15.12% |
Motor Vehicle Injuries | 13.25 | 16.86 | 11.93 | 14.83 | 6.32 | 9.56 | 10.89 | 27.25% |
Falls (Ages 65+) | 68.90 | 82.08 | 39.08 | 54.67 | 47.44 | 85.20 | 56.71 | 19.13% |
Drownings (Ages 0-9) | 1.70 | 3.86 | 1.27 | 2.25 | 0.90* | 1.35* | 1.03* | 127.06% |
Pedestrian** | 2.58 | 3.85 | 3.32 | 2.98 | 1.87 | 1.70 | 2.04 | 49.22% |
Pedal Cyclist** | 0.34 | 0.84 | 0.45 | 0.31 | 0.24 | 0.26 | 0.26 | 147.06% |
Violence-Related Injuries | 22.32 | 21.36 | 16.72 | 22.43 | 12.76 | 23.08 | 23.38 | -4.30% |
Suicides | 13.99 | 13.91 | 10.10 | 14.10 | 7.90 | 13.85 | 11.05 | -0.57% |
Homicides | 8.12 | 7.30 | 6.38 | 8.10 | 4.79 | 9.07 | 12.18 | -10.10% |
Poisoning | 32.37 | 37.58 | 26.56 | 16.72 | 28.69 | 43.31 | 29.02 | 16.10% |
| Source: CDC WISQARS | ||||||||
* Potentially unstable rate based on a total of fewer than 20 events.
** Pedestrian and pedal cyclist categories include motor vehicle traffic and nontraffic categories.
Injuries and violence can have an economic impact in the United States. “ In 2022 in Florida unintentional injuries cost $153.96 billion dollars, suicide cost 33.86 billion, and homicide cost $7.29 billion.” (CDC WISQARS - Cost of Injury)
Florida's Violence and Injury Prevention Section (VIPS)
The VIPS addresses statewide injury prevention priorities by providing technical assistance, information and resources to community partners.
Early Childhood Drowning Prevention—Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1-4 years. The “WaterSmartFL: Water Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility” initiative educates parents, caregivers, and communities about drowning risks and prevention strategies. The campaign identifies three layers to increase pool safety and reduce childhood drowning: supervision, barriers and emergency preparedness. An on-line toolkit is available at www.watersmartfl.com.
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.
Safe Kids Florida—Local coalitions provide leadership in their communities in an effort to reduce the number of childhood injuries, a leading killer of children ages 19 and under.
Distracted Driving Prevention—Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. The best way to end distracted driving is to educate all Americans about the danger it poses. Partners in this effort include SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), Safe Kids coalitions, emergency medical services and local, county and state law enforcement agencies.
Family Fire Safety Plan
One way to make your home safer is to have a Family Fire Safety Plan. Make fire safety a family event by including your kids in the planning and practice. Have your kids help you test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Older kids can help make a fire escape plan the whole family can practice.
Make Safe Happen App
Every year, unintentional injuries at home send millions of kids to the ER. Did you know there’s an app to help you make your home safer? Follow room-to-room safety checklists, create to-do lists, set reminders, and track your progress.
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