Injury Prevention

Unintentional and violence-related injury fatalities, counting suicide, homicide, drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes, and falls were among the 10 leading causes of death for all age groups in the United States in 2019. Injury is the leading cause of all deaths for children and adults between ages 1 and 45 (CDC).

Most injuries are preventable. Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) (WCHD) works in the local community, educating clinicians and families and distributing safety materials. Through partnerships, we support many community initiatives designed to prevent injury and fatalities.

Areas of Injury Prevention Focus:

Unintentional Falls among Seniors

• WCHD develops and maintains relevant fall prevention resources and linkages to resources and support services, including medication assessment and home safety modifications.
• WCHD performs community outreach in target areas to promote resource utilization.

Suicide Prevention:

• WCHD leads implementation of the Zero Suicide program in the Clinical and Community Health Programs Division within WCHD to establish and implement relevant policy and procedures for suicide screening and intervention, and professional training.

Fatal Drug Overdose/Poisoning Prevention

• WCHD collaborates with local agencies and participate in community events to reduce the rates of drug-related overdose/poisoning injury and deaths in Washoe County.
• Staff co-chairs the Washoe County Substance Abuse Task Force to increase information sharing across community partners, highlight local SUD prevention efforts, initiatives, programs, and emerging solutions, and advocate for evidence-based public policy reform.
• Staff coordinates with our internal programs and external partner agencies to implement Harm Reduction strategies and supplies for the community, including distribution of Naloxone and Fentanyl Testing Strips; coordinate establishment of Harm Reduction vending machines in strategic locations.

Last modified on 11/14/2023