National Injury Prevention Day was created by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids to raise awareness and slow the traumatic injury epidemic we are currently facing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that an estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. sustain a brain or spinal cord injury each year.  
 
In the U.S., injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in children between the ages of one and 18 and the leading cause of death for people through 44 years of age. Twenty children die from preventable injuries every day, resulting in more deaths than all other diseases combined, according to the CDC.
 
UAB Pediatric Neurosurgery Fellowship Program Director and ThinkFirst Alabama Medical Director James Johnston, M.D., is dedicated to empowering patients to make a difference in reducing traumatic neurological injuries.
 
ThinkFirst is a National Injury Prevention Foundation dedicated to preventing brain, spinal cord and other traumatic injuries through the education of individuals, community leaders and the creators of public policy.
 
In Johnston’s experience, vehicle crashes, violence, falls and sports are the most frequent causes of traumatic neurological injuries. “Firearms recently became the number one cause of death in children in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle accidents,” said Johnson. 
 
Simple actions can greatly reduce our risk for injury, such as wearing a seat belt, driving safe, sober, and without distractions, wearing bike and sports helmets and other safety precautions.

Learn how you can play a role in preventing life-changing injuries by visiting the Injury Free Coalition for Kids and ThinkFirst.