Injury Prevention
Injury Prevention in South Dakota
Injuries are among some of the leading causes of death in South Dakota. Injuries are a serious public health problem that can have a lifelong impact. The South Dakota Department of Health strives to address the burden of injury by disseminating information about fatal and non-fatal injuries and promoting prevention efforts for intentional and unintentional injuries. Understanding the prevalence of injuries is key to protecting South Dakotans from injury so individuals, families, and communities can be safe, healthy, and thriving.
What is Injury?
Injury is “physical harm or damage to someone’s body.” Whether intentional or unintentional, injuries can be predicted and prevented.
Unintentional injuries occur when there is no deliberate attempt to cause harm. Unintentional injuries include those that result from motor vehicle collisions, suffocations, burns, drownings, falls, firearms, overdoses, and recreational and sports-related activities.
Intentional injuries are purposely inflicted on oneself or others to cause harm. Intentional injuries include homicide, assaults, suicide and suicide attempts, child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault.
Injuries in South Dakota Report, 2024
Injury Prevention Resources Injury Insights Newsletter
Data Request Form: The Department of Health strives to make data available to community partners to inform the development of injury prevention strategies. For additional data needs not addressed in the currently available data reports, please complete the Injury and Overdose Data Request Form and send it to the contact listed.
Alcohol-Related Deaths & Hospitalizations
Alcohol-related deaths have been an increasing concern over the last ten years in South Dakota.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a head injury caused by an external force to the head or body, resulting in disruption of normal brain function.
Unintentional Falls
Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths in South Dakota.
South Dakota Violent Death Reporting System
SD-VDRS collects facts from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports, and toxicology reports into one anonymous database.
Suicide
Explore South Dakota's suicide landscape data on prevalence, risk factors, and changing trends, presented through the Suicide Data Dashboard and Prevention Reports.
Opioid Overdose Prevention
Let's Be Clear: South Dakota's joint effort between the South Dakota Department of Health and the South Dakota Department of Social Services to address substance misuse and substance use disorders in the state.
Additional Injury Prevention Resources
- American Red Cross Water Safety
- Find Swim Classes Near You (American Red Cross)
- Water Safety USA
- Drowning
- Preventing Drowning
- Learn basic swimming and water safety skills
- Build fences that fully enclose pools
- Supervise closely
- Wear a life jacket
- Learn CPR
- Know the risks of natural waters
- Avoid alcohol
- Use the buddy system
- Take additional precautions for medical conditions
- Consider the effects of medications
- Don’t hyperventilate or hold your breath for a long time
- Preventing Drowning (CDC)
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance
- Preventing Drowning
- Bathroom Safety
- 5 Bathroom Safety Tips for Infants & Young Children (HealthyChildren.org)
- Boating Safety
- South Dakota Boating Handbook
- Boating Safety Reminders - South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks
- Boat Safety Videos
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Resources
- Boating Safety Tips (SafeKids.org)
- Stay Safe on the Water (National Safety Council)
- Open Water Safety
- Pool Safety
- Pool Safety Tips
- Pool Safety Education & Materials
- Home Pool & Hot Tub Safety (American Red Cross)
- Farm Safety (National Farmers Union)
- Children's Farm Safety Playbook (South Dakota Farmers Union)
- Farm Safety (South Dakota Farmers Union)
- Importance of Agricultural Safety (USDA)
- Rural & Farm Safety (Children's Safety Network)
- Child/Youth Agriculture Safety Checklist (cultivatesafety.org)
- Staying Safe on the Farm with Jaxon Children's Book
- Sun Safety
- Sun Safety Facts (CDC)
- What You Need to Know About Sun Safety (YouTube Video)
- Water Safety
- American Red Cross Water Safety
- Find Swim Classes Near You (American Red Cross)
- Water Safety USA
- Drowning
- Preventing Drowning
- Learn basic swimming and water safety skills
- Build fences that fully enclose pools
- Supervise closely
- Wear a life jacket
- Learn CPR
- Know the risks of natural waters
- Avoid alcohol
- Use the buddy system
- Take additional precautions for medical conditions
- Consider the effects of medications
- Don’t hyperventilate or hold your breath for a long time
- Preventing Drowning (CDC)
- National Drowning Prevention Alliance
- Preventing Drowning
- Bathroom Safety
- 5 Bathroom Safety Tips for Infants & Young Children (HealthyChildren.org)
- Boating Safety
- South Dakota Boating Handbook
- Boating Safety Reminders (South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks)
- Boat Safety Videos
- U.S. Coast Guard Boating Resources
- Boating Safety Tips (SafeKids.org)
- Stay Safe on the Water (National Safety Council)
- Open Water Safety
- Pool Safety
- Pool Safety Tips
- Pool Safety Education & Materials
- Home Pool & Hot Tub Safety (American Red Cross)
- Fireworks Safety
- Fireworks Injuries & Deaths 2023 Report (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- Rules on Fireworks Safety (American Red Cross)
- Fireworks Safety Tips (National Safety Council)
- Playground Safety
- Handbook for Public Playground Safety (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- Staying Safe on Playgrounds (National Safety Council)
- Playground Safety Tips (SafeKids.org)
- Public Playground Safety Checklist (Consumer Product Safety Commission)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Car Seat and Booster Seat Safety
- Keeping Kids Safe - A parent’s guide to protecting children in and around cars
This booklet will help you better understand today’s vehicle safety features, car seats and how to keep kids safe in and around vehicles.
- Keeping Kids Safe - A parent’s guide to protecting children in and around cars
- Seat Belt Safety
- Car Seat and Booster Seat Safety
- Seat Belts & Car Seats (SD Dept. of Public Safety)
- Drive Safe SD
- Seat Belt Data (National Safety Council)
- Car Seat Guide (SafeKids.org)
- Precious Cargo Poster
- Fire Prevention
- South Dakota Fire Safety (SD Dept. of Public Safety)
- Home Fire Escape Planning (National Fire Protection Association)
- Home Fire Safety Resources, Tips, and Information (National Fire Protection Association)
- Home Fire Prevention & Safety Tips (American Red Cross)
- Poison Prevention
- A Guide to Home Safety: Identifying & Preventing Hazards (safehome.org)
- Family Safety Activity Book
- A Parent's Guide to Child Safety
- Home Safety Tips (safekids.org)
- Pedestrian & Bike Safety (SD Dept. of Public Safety)
- Bicycle Safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
- Bike Safely and Enjoy Your Ride (National Safety Council)
- Bike Safety Tips (safekids.org)
- Bicycle Safety & Equipment (sdemsc.org)
- Snake
- Snake Safety (USDA Forest Service)
- Snake Safety (American Hiking Society)
- Insects
- Mosquito Control & Protection (SD DOH)
- Reduce the Threat of Mosquito-borne Illnesses (National Safety Council)
- Protect Yourself from Stinging Insects (CDC)
- Avoid Bug Bites (CDC)
- Ticks
- Tick-Borne Spotted Fevers Data & Facts (SD DOH)
- South Dakota Tick Identification (SD DOH)
- Checking for Ticks (USDA)
- Tick Prevention (CDC)
- South Dakota Regulations
- When operating off-road vehicles in the parks or campgrounds, the requirements are the same as an automobile. They must: have a South Dakota license, park entrance license, stay on designated roads, be operated by a person with a valid driver’s license.
- When in the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) areas, vehicles are not required to be licensed or to have a park entrance license.
- Off-road riding is allowed only on designated areas inside OHV areas.
- Off-highway vehicles are prohibited from the snowmobile trails system during the snowmobile season.
- Snowmobiles are permitted in the OHV areas only during the designated snowmobile season.
- South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks
- ATV Safety Institute
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Safety Tips (National Weather Service)
- Seasonal Safety Campaign (National Weather Service)
- Winter Weather
- Winter Safety (National Weather Service)
- Winter Safety Tips (National Safety Council)
- Prepare for a Winter Storm (National Weather Service)
- Tornadoes
- Tornado Safety (National Weather Service)
- Prepare for a Tornado (National Weather Service)
- Tornado Safety Tips (American Red Cross)
- Tornado Safety Checklist (American Red Cross)
- Thunderstorms
- Severe Thunderstorm Safety (National Weather Service)
- Prepare for a Severe Thunderstorm (National Weather Service)
- Thunderstorm Safety Tips (American Red Cross)
- Thunderstorm Safety Checklist (American Red Cross)
- Wildfires
- South Dakota Wildland Fire Prevention
- Wildland Fire Safety (National Weather Service)
- Wildfire Safety Tips (American Red Cross)
- Wildfire Safety Checklist (American Red Cross)
- Dog Bite Prevention Tips (Healthy Children)
- Dog Bite Prevention (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- Children’s Resources: Dog Bite Prevention (Animal Medical Center)
- Animal Bites (Sioux Falls Health Department)