Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: June 19, 2006
Contact: Beatriz Perez, Manager, Safe Rhode Island, (401) 222-7627 (Data)
Carol Hall-Walker, Communications Manager, (401) 222-2589 (Forum)

State Chief Medical Examiner Releases New Data on Injuries in Rhode Island at Injury Prevention Forum

Today, the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) released new data about injury problems in Rhode Island. As the first report of its kind, "The Burden of Injury in Rhode Island: A State Profile ," presents data on injuries suffered by Rhode Islanders from 1999 to 2003 and aims to inform the public about injury prevention as an important public health issue.

"Injury is a serious public health issue. It is the leading cause of death for Rhode Islanders between the ages of 1 and 44, and it is the most common cause of hospitalization for persons under 40," said David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, Director of Health.

The Injury Prevention Forum was sponsored by the Rhode Island Injury Community Planning Group (ICPG), a partnership of HEALTH and the Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital. The Forum brought together professionals representing a broad range of agencies and organizations concerned with building Rhode Island's capacity to address injury prevention.

The recently appointed Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Rhode Island, Thomas P. Gilson, MD, FCAP, discussed the problem of injuries in our state and highlighted the new data at the Forum. The data shows that the three leading causes of injury, deaths, and disabilities in Rhode Island include: 1) motor vehicle crashes, 2) falls, and 3) suicide.

At the Forum, Barbara Morse-Silva, Health Check Reporter, WJAR-NBC10, moderated a media panel joined by Sue Areson, Metropolitan Managing Editor, Providence Journal, Peter Wells, Manager, The Providence American, and Bill George, News Director, WHJJ-AM radio. These media representatives had a lively discussion about how they cover injury-related stories in Rhode Island.

The public health community discussed what they are doing to reduce the burden of injuries on our state. HEALTH and ICPG have established three subcommittees that have developed prevention plans and action steps that will help save lives and reduce the burden of injury on our state.

"Every year, more than 5,000 Rhode Islanders are hospitalized due to an injury, and at least one person dies a day from injury-related causes," said Michael J. Mello, MD, MPH, Director of the Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital and Chair of the ICPG. "In recent years, there have been approximately 462 injury deaths per year in Rhode Island. Additionally, thousands of non-fatal injuries result in long-term disabilities. This report finds that from 1999 to 2003, injuries cost Rhode Island $1.3 billion in health care and social support resources, and more importantly human pain and suffering that is preventable."

To learn more about the Burden of Injury report or details about the Injury Prevention Forum go to http://www.health.ri.gov/disease/saferi/index.php or call 401-222-7627.