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California State University, Long Beach
Health Resource Center, Student Health Services
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Safety & Injuries

Motor Vehicle- Related Injuries

More than 41,000 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes each year, and crash injuries result in about 500,000 hospitalizations and four million emergency department visits annually. Wearing a seatbelt when driving or riding in a car can increase your chances of survival by more than 40%.
To prevent and reduce injury to you and those around you

  1. Never drive or let others drive under the influence of any controlled substance.
  2. Increase the use of safety belts and the proper use of child safety seats.   
  3. Limit the amount of multi-tasking while driving such as eating, drinking, talking on the phone, and changing CDs.
  4. Drive defensively and be aware of your surroundings. 
  5. Excess speed also contributes to both the frequency and severity of motor vehicle crashes.

Bicycle Injuries

The common causes of injury on a bicycle are:

  1. Loss of control
  2. Riding after dark
  3. Hidden driveways
  4. Failure to follow rules of the road

To prevent and reduce injuries related to bicycling:

  1. Wear a properly fitting helmet to not only protect your head from trauma, but also to increase your visibility to others.
  2. Wear colors to increase your visibility, bright colors, neon, and fluorescent. 
  3. Carefully watch your path for possible obstacles that could make you fall.
  4. Obey traffic laws such as riding on the right side of the road; also use signals and always yield to pedestrians. 
  5. Don’t ride under the influence

According to the California Vehicle Code:  Any person who rides a bicycle upon a highway while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs, or under the combined influence of thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250). (21200.5 V.C.) If the person is under 21 but over 13 years of age, his or her driving privilege will be suspended for one year or delayed once the person is eligible to drive. (13202.5 V.C.) 

Suicide

In 2002, 132,353 individuals were hospitalized following suicide attempts; 116,639 were treated in emergency departments and released (CDC, 2004).  Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death for all U.S. men (Anderson and Smith, 2003).
Research has identified the following risk factors for suicide (DHHS 1999):

  1. Previous Suicide attempts
  2. History of Mental Disorders, particularly depression
  3. History of Alcohol and Substance abuse
  4. Victim of past sexual, mental or physical abuse
  5. Barriers to assessing mental health treatment
  6. Feelings of hopelessness

Preventative factors that can help buffer people from the associated risks of suicide are:

  1. Effective clinical care for mental, physical, and substance abuse disorders.
  2. Easy access to a variety of clinical interventions and support for help seeking.
  3. Family and community support.
  4. Support from on-going medical and mental health care relationships.
  5. Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution, and nonviolent handling of disputes.
  6. Cultural and religious beliefs that discourage suicide and support self-preservation instincts.

Violent Assault

  1. Factors that contribute to violent assaults in college settings are alcohol abuse, hazing, hate crimes, rioting and other forms of violence.
  2. Among 10 to 24 year olds, homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans, the second leading cause of death for Hispanics, and the third leading cause of death for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Asian/Pacific Islanders (CDC, 2006). 
  3. Of the 5,570 homicides reported in 2003 among 10 to 24 year olds, 86% were males and 14% were females (CDC, 2005).

Preventative factors that buffer individuals from resorting to violence include:

  1. Intolerant attitude towards deviance
  2. Good academic performance
  3. Positive social orientation
  4. Religiosity
  5. Connectedness to family
  6.  Commitment to school
  7. Involvement in social activities.

References:

  1. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/yvfacts.htm
  2. http://www.nada.org/NADAGuides/Safe_Driving_Tips.htm
  3. http://www.violencegoestocollege.com/
  4. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/suifacts.htm
  5. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/mvsafety.htm
  6. http://www.stjohn.org/TraumaCenter/Prevention/BikeSafety/
  7. http://www.acityline.com/burbank/city/bike/bbikcod.html