Teens and Injury

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 75 percent of the deaths among youth aged 10 to 24 years are caused by unintentional injuries or violence; more than the deaths for all diseases combined! Data show that the leading cause of injuries for this age group is motor-vehicle crashes (32 percent). Homicide and suicide account for about 27 percent of deaths.

• Behaviors That Contribute to Unintentional Injury
• Behaviors That Contribute to Violence
• Learn More About Teen Injuries and Behaviors That Contribute To Injury

Behaviors That Contribute to Unintentional Injury

The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey showed that there are certain behaviors that are the main contributors to these injuries and deaths.

• 18.2 percent of students had rarely or never worn seat belts during the 30 days preceding the survey.


• 85.9 percent of students who rode bicycles rarely or never wore a helmet.
  
• 30.2 percent of students had ridden one or more times with a driver who had been drinking alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey.


• 12.1 percent of students had driven a car or other vehicle after drinking alcohol.


• 44.9 percent of students had drunk alcohol during the 30 days preceding the survey.


• 22.4 percent of students had used marijuana during the 30 days preceding the survey.

Back to top

Behaviors That Contribute to Violence

• 17.1 percent of students had carried a weapon during the 30 days preceding the survey.


• 33 percent of students had been in a physical fight during the 12 months preceding the survey.


• 8.9 percent of students had been hit, slapped or hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend during the 12 months preceding the survey.


• 9 percent of students had been forced to have sexual intercourse when they didn't want to during the 12 months preceding the survey.


• 5.4 percent of students had missed one or more days of school during the 30 days preceding the survey because they didn't feel safe either at school or on the way to or from school.


• 8.5 percent of students had attempted suicide during the 12 months preceding the survey.

Back to top

Learn More About Teen Injuries and Behaviors That Contribute To Injury

• Bicycling Injuries -- wear a helmet!


• Car safety


• Snowboarding



• Sports Injuries


• Summer Sports

Back to top