Preventing injury and violence is important for everyone. An injury or a violent act can affect anyone at any stage in life. It can affect their emotional and physical health. An injury or violent act can also lead to long-term problems, disability, or death.
Injuries and violence are preventable. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) works to prevent injury and violence by:
- Collecting and explaining injury- and violence-related data;
- Identifying and addressing risk and protective factors;
- Funding programs that work to prevent injury and violence;
- Working with partners to expand prevention efforts;
- Training the workforce to address injury and violence prevention; and
- Providing Virginians with the knowledge to stay safe and healthy.
Fast Facts:
Among Virginians in 2024, there were:
37,041 injury hospitalizations, a 2.4% increase from 2023.
- 52% of injury hospitalizations were female
- 57% of injury hospitalizations were aged 65 years and older
- 57% of injury hospitalizations were fall-related
5,852 injury deaths, a 16.4% decrease from 2023.
- 70% of injury deaths were male
- 59% of injury deaths were aged 25-64 years
- 31% of injury deaths were traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related
- 20% of injury deaths were by suicide