Injury Prevention Opportunities in the Pediatric Emergency Department

Injury is the leading cause of death in children over 1 year of age, causes considerable morbidity, and is a significant source of health care cost. Injury prevention methodology has helped to decrease pediatric injuries over the last several decades; however, significant room for improvement remains. Emergency medicine providers have the expertise and opportunity to participate in injury prevention. Injury risk identification and injury prevention interventions in the emergency department have been increasingly explored over the last decade. This review discusses promising emergency department–based approaches such as safety behavior screening; screening for suicide risk, violence risk, and exposure to firearms; education and interventions; and advocacy opportunities.