Injury Prevention

Awareness of injury prevention in San Diego

A senior woman on a sofa hold hands with a caregiver. A walker used for balance is in the background.

Awareness of injury prevention in San Diego

Traumatic injury is one of the most common, yet under-recognized, medical challenges affecting the Unites States. Surprisingly, the impact on years lost is equal to that of cancer, heart disease and HIV combined. Life-threatening injuries can happen to anyone regardless of age, and many injuries can be prevented or avoided with a few safety precautions. 


Scripps Health is deeply committed to preventing injuries through our strong dedication to community planning, prevention, professional education and research.

Our approach to injury prevention

Traumatic injury is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Scripps continues to take proactive steps to prevent life-threatening injuries and improve outcomes in our community. Scripps established the Injury and Violence Prevention program in a collaborative effort between our Level 1 trauma centers at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego. This program focuses on education and outreach with the intention of creating positive change in our community.


We work closely with faculty and staff to decrease preventable death and injuries through professional education. The trauma team focuses on data-driven injury trends and evidence-based education programs to help reduce falls, prevent violence and increase traffic safety across San Diego County. With a strong commitment to research, our teams continuously study how injuries happen and look for the best preventative solutions.


Additionally, the prevention team then shares the best ideas in injury prevention as we provide presentations, participate in various committees, task forces and coalitions with other members of the injury prevention community. 


Working to prevent injury and violence in our community is a team effort. Our wide network of long-standing partnerships from state and law enforcement agencies to community-based organizations allows us to participate in community conversations with families, schools, community centers and medical professionals. Other members of the injury prevention community we collaborate with often include experts in public health, medicine, surgery, social work, psychology and patient advocacy.

Education

Injury prevention is a multidisciplinary field requiring collaboration between clinicians, public health practitioners, researchers and community organizations. Our program offers education and training opportunities designed to connect clinical and public health experts.

Outreach 

Our outreach activities seek to empower citizens and give them the tools to live a life exempt from the burden of injuries. Outreach also lets us share evidence-based injury prevention discoveries with community members and policymakers with a goal of translating research into practice. 


The program is proud to serve as a shared resource for these efforts by collaborating with community-based organizations, hosting programs, providing training and much more. Our goals include:


  • Delivering innovative, high-impact, evidence-based injury prevention interventions
  • Developing injury prevention expertise within the healthcare workforce
  • Supporting community-based injury prevention efforts in San Diego County

Areas of focus to prevent injury

Our injury prevention educators have expertise in many areas — ranging from fall prevention to transportation safety.

Fall prevention

Falls are a major cause of death and disability for older adults, and deaths from falls have increased in recent years. However, falls are not an inevitable part of getting older and can be prevented. Learn about best practices to help older adults living on their own prevent falls with evidence-based programs. 


Our educators are available to bring this program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location. 

Traffic safety

Each year, numerous pedestrians and bicyclists were struck by vehicles in San Diego, resulting in surprisingly high numbers of preventable pedestrian injuries. Traffic safety programs can benefit drivers of any age — from teens to older adults. 


Some community programs for traffic safety include:


  • Teen driver safety — Presented to teens and their parents, this interactive program addresses the realities novice drivers face when learning behind-the-wheel skills.
  • Older driver safety — Highlighting the importance of age-related driving concerns and best practices, this program can help you keep driving for as long as safely possible. 
  • Distracted and impaired driving — Addressing the importance of staying alert behind the wheel, this interactive program busts myths surrounding unsafe driving behaviors. 
  • Child passenger safety — Designed for new parents and caregivers of young children, this program addresses the top challenges with safely transporting young children and offers resources to help you travel safer. 


Our educators are available to bring the program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location.

Bike/Ebike safety 

Biking is a healthy, affordable and environmentally friendly form of transportation and recreation. With the new technology of electric bikes (Ebikes) and other modes of micro mobility, we are seeing a shifting trend in traumatic injuries related to biking. To address this alarming trend, we offer educational workshops and hands-on training to keep all road users as safe as possible. 


Our educators are available to bring the program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location. 

Violence prevention 

Community violence is often a result of inequity, shaped by factors like poverty, racism, and lack of educational and employment opportunity. We take a public health approach to violence prevention, partnering with community organizations and incorporating social supports into traditional medical care. 


Our educators are available to bring the program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location.

Stop the Bleed program 

Created by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, this program saves lives that would otherwise be lost due to preventable injury by helping people learn how to spot and stop severe bleeding. It is estimated that more than 30,000 lives could be saved a year with effective bleeding control. A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes, so quickly stopping the bleeding is critical. Those nearest to someone with life-threatening injuries are best positioned to provide immediate care if they are equipped with the appropriate training and resources. No matter how rapid the arrival of professional emergency responders, bystanders will always be first on the scene. Stop the Bleed is a national campaign to provide training so that bystanders can act as immediate responders.


Our educators are available to bring the program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location.

Lifeguard program

One of the main attractions in San Diego are our beautiful beaches. In partnership with San Diego County Lifeguards, this one-day educational conference strives to connect leaders and stakeholders on topics that include, but not limited to, best practices on drowning resuscitation, human factors in lifeguarding and skin care for lifeguards.


Our educators are available to bring the program to community groups and businesses. Please contact the educators via email at injuryprevention@scrippshealth.org to request the program be held at your location.

Classes and programs

Scripps offers several classes throughout the year to help our community become stronger and safer. Search for upcoming events.


  • Bingocize — an engaging, evidence-based program that involves exercise, health education and the popular game of bingo (offered virtually and in-person) 
  • Matter of Balance — an evidence-based, 8-week program that focuses on strength, flexibility and balance
  • Older Driver Safety — addressing the unique transportation needs of older drivers, who may have changes to cognitive, physical and visual capabilities
  • Teen Driver Safety Workshop — learn the risks associated with new drivers and how to keep them as safe as possible.

Support and resources

The following additional resources offer valuable tips and guidance.