Epidemiology and prevention of injuries.

Injuries are the leading cause of death for ages 1 to 44 and are responsible for more years of productive life lost than any other disease. The common perception of injuries as random, unpredictable events has impeded the application of existing knowledge and technology fully capable of preventing many injuries or lessening their severity. This article explores the concept of injury control, the application of standard epidemiologic methods of investigation, the identification of high-risk groups, and the development and implementation of strategies for trauma prevention.