Alaska Injury Prevention and Surveillance Unit
Unintentional and intentional injuries are leading causes of death for Alaskans aged 5 to 54. For individuals aged 5 to 14 and 25 to 54, unintentional injuries—including drug overdoses, falls, transportation accidents, and drownings—pose the greatest risk. Among those aged 15 to 34, suicide and self-harm are the primary causes of death.
In addition to fatalities, unintentional injuries can lead to lasting health complications, such as traumatic brain injuries and sedentary lifestyles, significantly increasing healthcare costs for the state. Our programs work with partners across the state to prevent these injuries and related health care costs. Between 2016 and 2020, Alaska experienced more than 14,000 non-fatal injury hospitalizations. During this period, the top five leading causes of injury-related hospitalizations were:
- 1. Falls
- 2. Assaults
- 3. Motor vehicle crashes
- 4. Attempted suicides
- 5. ATV crashes
Notably, falls were the leading cause of hospitalizations for almost all age groups, except for ages 10-19 (where suicides were prevalent) and ages 20-34 (where assaults were more common).
These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive prevention programs to address both fatal and non-fatal injuries in our communities. By prioritizing effective prevention strategies, we can improve safety and health outcomes for all Alaskans.
About the Injury Prevention and Surveillance Unit (IPSU):
The IPSU’s mission is to improve the health, safety and well being of Alaskans by addressing individual, social, environmental, and social determinants of health to prevent injuries and death. The IPSU also collects and analyzes data across surveillance systems to help de-silo specific injury efforts and develop shared risk and protective “up-stream” prevention approaches that are unified and coordinated across injury topics.
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Engage with key partners through the
Alaska Statewide Violence and Injury Prevention Partnership is comprised of professionals representing a broad range of agencies, organizations, regions, and Tribal and non-Tribal entities concerned with building Alaska’s capacity to prevent injury and violence. ASVIPP works to maximize the use of resources to improve progress towards the following 6 priority topic areas:
- 1. Child Maltreatment
- 2. Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
- 3. Suicide
- 4. Adult Falls
- 5. Poisonings
- 6. Transportation.
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Educate Alaskans about the
risk factors of injuries and about the programs available that can help them prevent those risks.
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Engage partners across the state to implement effective strategies to prevent injuries from poisoning, drowning, accidents on roadways or trails, and falls.
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Monitor injury data across the state to inform key partners and efforts to prevent injuries. Data maintained by IPSU include:
- 1. The Alaska Violent Death Reporting System
- 2. The State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System
- 3. Occupational Fatality Database (submit an
occupational injury report here)
- 4. Drowning Fatality Database
- 5. Firearms-Injury Fatality Database (submit a
firearm injury report here)
Individuals, communities and health care providers can do the following to help Alaskans stay safe:
Individuals
Communities and Health Care Providers
Everyone
