KIPRC Highlights Injury Prevention Efforts on National Injury Prevention Day
National Injury Prevention Day, observed annually on November 18 and created by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, shines a spotlight on the urgent need to prevent injuries and promote safety in every community. Across the nation, organizations unite on this day to share knowledge, resources and strategies that save lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), injuries and violence are the leading causes of death and hospitalization for Americans ages 1 to 44, making prevention a critical public health priority.
In Kentucky, the Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center (KIPRC) serves as the state’s hub for injury data surveillance, research and community collaboration, with a strong focus on translating findings into practice to prevent injuries and promote safety statewide. As both an academic center at the University of Kentucky College of Public Health and the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s “bona fide agent,” KIPRC leverages data, partnerships and innovation to build safer, healthierui99i communities. In honor of National Injury Prevention Day, KIPRC is highlighting several key resources and initiatives developed through the center to advance safety and injury prevention across the Commonwealth.
Substance Use Disorder Resources
According to the 2024 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report, 1,410 Kentuckians died from a drug overdose, a 30.2% decrease compared to 2023. The report also highlights that overdose deaths declined across most age groups, and for the first time, deaths among Black Kentuckians decreased, by 37.3% from the prior year. KIPRC established a suite of innovative programs focused on data surveillance and drug overdose prevention to reduce the significant public health and social impacts of substance use and misuse across the state.
KIPRC’s implementation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) program strengthens Kentucky’s ability to monitor, prevent and respond to substance use challenges. By collecting and analyzing the latest data on drug overdoses, OD2A-KY helps communities adapt quickly to emerging trends, ensuring that prevention strategies remain responsive and effective. OD2A-KY’s strength lies in translating data into targeted interventions, building strong partnerships with local health departments and community organizations, and developing resources that connect Kentuckians to treatment and recovery support.
One such linkage-to-treatment program developed by KIPRC is FindHelpNow Kentucky, which was launched in 2018 as a statewide, near‑real‑time resource to connect people to substance use disorder treatment facilities with available openings. Since then, it has expanded to include mental health recovery housing, and naloxone locators and listings for community resources. Maintained in partnership with providers, state agencies, and public health partners, the model has been shared with other states and is supported through federal funding and cooperative agreements that enable expansion.
The Why, Where, and When of Violent Death in Kentucky
KIPRC’s Kentucky Violent Death Reporting System (KYVDRS) provides a comprehensive picture of violent deaths in the Commonwealth by linking data from multiple sources, including death certificates, law enforcement reports, and medical examiner/coroner records. By combining these perspectives, KYVDRS goes beyond the numbers to help explain the circumstances surrounding violent deaths such as suicides, homicides, and deaths of undetermined intent.
This integrated approach is critical for understanding the “why” behind violent deaths. Instead of viewing each case in isolation, KYVDRS reveals patterns, such as risk factors, relationships, or precipitating events, that can inform prevention strategies. Findings are used by public health officials, policymakers, and community partners to shape evidence-based programs and policies that save lives.
Program Principal Investigator Dr. Sabrina Brown shares these insights beyond the research community. She recently delivered the keynote address at the Voices & Vision Suicide Awareness and Prevention event in London, Kentucky, to illustrate how KYVDRS data can guide both awareness and action.
Launched last year, the Kentucky Advancing Violence Epidemiology in Real Time (KY-AVERT) program is transforming how the Commonwealth tracks and responds to violence-related injuries. By partnering with hospitals across the state, KY-AVERT collects and analyzes the most recent data on firearm injuries and other violence-related cases from emergency departments and inpatient hospital stays. This rapid surveillance allows public health officials to identify hotspots, disparities, and emerging trends more quickly than ever before, creating opportunities for targeted prevention and faster intervention.
A major milestone for KY-AVERT is the upcoming launch of the interactive Violence-Related Injury Dashboard. The dashboard provides a comprehensive view of assault-related injuries statewide, beginning with an overview tab and expanding into five focus areas: child abuse and neglect, adult assault, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and pregnancy-associated violence. Users will be able to explore both rates and counts of injuries, broken down by various demographics, geographic region, and year.
A Lifetime of Violence and Injury Prevention
The Kentucky Violence and Injury Prevention Program (KVIPP) leads statewide efforts to reduce injuries and violence across a person’s lifespan. Current priorities include strengthening child home safety, preventing teen motor vehicle crashes, advancing fire safety, and reducing older adult falls. By combining surveillance data with community partnerships, KVIPP ensures prevention strategies reach Kentuckians of all ages and backgrounds.
One urgent focus is the rise in cases of pediatric overdose and ingestion, which have more than doubled in the past five years. To address this, KVIPP and the Kentucky Safety & Prevention Alignment Network (KSPAN) launched the Accidental Childhood Overdose Prevention & Awareness project, distributing more than 12,000 free medication lock boxes with face-to-face caregiver education. These efforts, supported by partners in all 120 counties, give families practical tools to prevent accidental ingestions.
The program’s next goal is to expand safe firearm storage by disseminating gun locks, reinforcing a simple but vital message: child-resistant is not childproof; safe storage saves lives.
Occupational Safety and Health
Workplace safety is a central focus of injury prevention, and KIPRC’s Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance (KOSHS) program is dedicated to protecting workers across the Commonwealth. By monitoring more than 30 indicators of occupational health, KOSHS provides a comprehensive picture of workplace injuries and illnesses in Kentucky. This data-driven approach allows the program to identify emerging risks, track trends, and guide prevention strategies.
KOSHS goes beyond data collection by turning findings into practical tools for action. The program develops and distributes hazard alerts to raise awareness of specific workplace dangers and publishes detailed occupational fatality reports that inform employers, workers, and policymakers. It also produces training tools and educational videos that equip organizations with accessible, real-world resources to strengthen safety practices. These outputs not only share best practices but also empower workplaces to implement effective prevention measures.
National Injury Prevention Day reminds us that injuries and violence are not inevitable but are preventable. By combining data surveillance, research, and strong community partnerships, KIPRC is working every day to reduce risks and save lives. From preventing overdoses and violent deaths to improving workplace safety and protecting children, KIPRC’s programs demonstrate the power of collaboration and innovation in building a safer Kentucky.