Physical Trauma
10% of all years people live with a disability are attributed to injury, both unintentional and violence-related.
Physical trauma
Is a global public health issue
Injuries result from road traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns, poisoning and acts of violence against oneself or others, among other causes. Tens of millions of people suffer non-fatal injuries each year which lead to emergency department and acute care visits, hospitalizations or treatment by general practitioners and often result in temporary or permanent disability and the need for long-term physical and mental health care and rehabilitation.
For all injuries and violence, providing quality emergency care for victims can prevent fatalities, reduce the amount of short-term and long-term disability, and help those affected to cope physically, emotionally, financially and legally with the impact of the injury or violence on their lives.
The uneven distribution of injuries that makes them more prevalent among the less advantaged is related to several risk factors. These include living, working, traveling and going to school in more precarious conditions, less focus on prevention efforts in underprivileged communities, and poorer access to quality emergency trauma care and rehabilitation services.
HOW TO MITIGATE AND PREVENT IT
Together, We Can
Make A Difference
Forensic nurses meet the critical healthcare needs of victims of violence through a patient-centered, trauma-informed approach. They play a vital role in reducing the health impacts of traumatic injury.