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 a key part of protecting South Dakotans from injury so individuals, families, and communities can be safe, healthy, and thriving.
What is Injury?
Injury is defined as “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 toward oneself or others with a goal of causing harm. Intentional injuries include homicide, assaults, suicide and suicide attempts, child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault.
Injury Reports and Resources
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.
Injuries in South Dakota Report, 2023
National Resources:
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.
Alcohol-Related Deaths & Hospitalizations Report, 2023
State Resources:
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services in South Dakota
- South Dakota Alcohol Addiction Helpline
- Find Drug & Alcohol Resources in South Dakota
National Resources:
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.
Traumatic Brain Injury Report, 2023
State Resources:
- Brain Injury Alliance of South Dakota
- South Dakota Brain Injury Support Groups
- South Dakota Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
National Resources:
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.
Unintentional Falls Among Older Adults Report, 2023
State Resources:
National Resources:
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