Communities
living injury free
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Injuries
An injury happens when an event (such as a car crash) causes a person (or people)
to suffer physically or mentally because of the event.
Injuries can be deliberate (eg assault, suicide) or unintentional (eg falls).
This information focuses on unintentional injuries.
Common injuries are:
- falls
- road crashes - for drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians
- drowning or near-drowning
- burns - from fire or hot liquids
- cutting or piercing eg from a knife or power tool.
Anyone can be injured. Some groups at higher risk of being injured are:
- children (falls, drowning, road crashes)
- older people (falls)
- men (road crashes, falls, drowning).
Injuries can happen anywhere, but mostly:
- at home
- on the road
- at school
- at work
- at play eg sport, cycling, in the playground.
Why injury is an issue
Injury is an issue for all of us who live, work and play in Auckland city. Consider:
- injuries are expensive to treat. Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
paid out $2,727.8 million in 2007/08 in personal injury cover
- the high human cost of injuries. For children, injuries can mean getting behind with school work, or
missing out on participating in hobbies and other activities. For adults, an injury to themselves or a child can mean time off work
or even having to give up or change their job. For older people injuries can be particularly difficult. They can reduce
mobility and confidence, and lead to social isolation
- if injuries can be reduced, this frees up hospital resources to treat other
types of illness.
Updated September 2008
