Injury Prevention
Injuries are among some of the leading causes of death in South Dakota. 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.
Injury Prevention Reports
Traumatic Brain Injury Report, 2023
From 2013 to 2022, there were 2,212 TBI-related deaths among South Dakota residents. In 2022, there were 262 TBI-related deaths, which was a 51% increase from 174 deaths in 2013, see Figure 1. South Dakota had the 12th highest age-adjusted TBI-related death rate in 2021. The age-adjusted rate for South Dakota in 2021 was 25.9 per 100,000 and the United States rate was 19.5 per 100,000.
Alcohol-Related Deaths & Hospitalizations South Dakota, 2023
In South Dakota, the number of alcohol-related deaths has been increasing in the last ten years. Alcohol-related deaths increased by 120%, from 150 deaths in 2013 to 330 deaths in 2022 (Figure 1). South Dakota had the fifth highest crude rate for alcohol-related deaths at 19.4 per 100,000, while the United States rate was 10.6 per 100,000, 2011-2020
Unintentional Falls Among Adults Aged 65 Years And Older, 2023
Unintentional falls are one of the leading causes of death for South Dakotans aged 65 years and older. From 2013 to 2022, there were 1,640 unintentional fall-related deaths among South Dakotans aged 65 years and older. The number of fall-related deaths increased 55% from 127 deaths in 2013 to 197 deaths in 2022. In 2021, South Dakota had the third highest age-adjusted rate (140.8 per 100,000) for unintentional fall-related deaths among individuals aged 65 years and older, the national rate was 78.3 per 100,000.
Injuries in South Dakota, 2023
Injury is physical harm or damage to the body that can result in the impairment or destruction of health. Injuries can be the result of intentional or unintentional events such as falls, motor vehicle accidents, firearms, poisoning, drowning, or suffocation. Injuries are a serious public health problem that can have a lifelong impact. Understanding the prevalence of injuries is a key part of protecting South Dakotans from injury so individuals, families, and communities can be safe, healthy, and thriving.
You Might Also Like
Suicide Prevention
Suicide is a serious public health problem among youth, young adults, and beyond. Access resources on suicide prevention.
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.
Seat Belt Safety
The SD DOH wants to prevent needless deaths due to improper seat belt and car seat use. Activity kits for practicing life saving have been developed.
Avoid Opioid Prescription Addiction
Avoid Opioid SD: South Dakota's initiative combating opioid abuse and misuse, jointly led by the Department of Health and Department of Social Services.