Reducing injuries and their results: the scientific approach

The problem of human injury has been misunderstood and neglected for too long. Although scientific approaches have been applied to the problem of human damage from traditionally recognized environmental hazards, such as lead and pathogenic organisms, analogous approaches for controlling injuries have been largely ignored. This paper describes the etiologic agents of injuries and methods of preventing or reducing their harmful effects on man. Effective strategies for reducing human losses due to injuries go far beyond traditional concepts of 'accident prevention': even when 'accidents' cannot be prevented, there are many ways to prevent or reduce the frequency and severity of injuries and their sequelae. Important considerations in choosing injury countermeasures include effectiveness, economic constraints, and reduction of the amount of individual cooperation that is necessary.