Jump to content

  • Set Your Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
Set Your LocationKahi Mohala
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Kāhi Mōhala
  • Health and Wellness
  • For Teens by Teens
  • Prevention and Safety
  • Unintentional Injuries and Violence
Content

Unintentional Injuries & Violence

Accidents and violence cause more teen deaths than all diseases combined. Here’s how to reduce your risks.

Katharine Booher, Public Health Education Intern

Katharine Booher, Public Health Education Intern

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 77 percent of deaths among youth ages 10 to 24 years are caused by unintentional injuries or violence. That’s more than the number of deaths from all diseases combined.

In 2016, the four main causes of death among people ages 10 to 24 were:

  • Motor vehicle crashes: 22 percent
  • Suicide: 20 percent
  • Homicide: 15 percent
  • Other unintentional injuries: 20 percent

The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey highlights behaviors that contribute to these injuries and deaths among high school students. By knowing these risk factors and behaviors, you can increase your awareness and reduce your risk.

Behaviors That Contribute to Unintentional Injury

Students reported that they engaged in these behaviors during the 30 days before they took the survey:

  • Not using a seat belt. Nearly 6 percent of students had either never or rarely worn a seat belt while in a car that someone else was driving.
  • Riding with someone who’s been drinking. Nearly 17 percent of students had taken a ride with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.
  • Drinking and driving. Among students who drive, 5.5 percent of students had driven a car or other vehicle after they’d been drinking alcohol.
  • Marijuana use and driving. Among students who drive, 13 percent drove a car or other vehicle one or more times after using marijuana.
  • Texting and driving. Among students who drive, 39 percent had texted or emailed while driving a car or other vehicle.
  • Alcohol use. Almost 30 percent of students drank alcohol at least once in the past 30 days.
  • Marijuana use. Almost 20 percent of students used marijuana at least once a day in the past 30 days.

Behaviors That Contribute to Violence

Students reported that they engaged in or experienced these behaviors during 12 months before they took the survey:

  • Carrying a weapon. Nearly 16 percent students had carried a weapon, such as a gun, knife or club. Almost 4 percent of students had carried a weapon on school property, and 6 percent were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property.
  • Fighting. Almost 24 percent of students had been in a physical fight one or more times in the past 12 months.
  • Cyberbullying. Almost 15 percent of students had been electronically bullied through texting, Instagram, Facebook or other social media in the past 12 months.

Results from these behaviors include:

  • Anxiety. More than 6 percent of students didn’t go to school at least one day because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to and from school.
  • Dating violence. Among students who dated, 7 percent reported experiencing dating violence and 7.4 percent reported being physically forced to have sexual intercourse during the previous year.
  • Suicide. During the 12 months before taking the survey, 7.4 percent of students had attempted suicide. If you or a friend is considering self-harm, please call or text a hotline today.

Last reviewed: December 2019

Related Articles

  • Safety on the Internet
  • Sun Exposure and Tanning
  • Dangers of Snow Sports: Injuries While Skiing or Snowboarding
  • Managing Your Stress
  • Healing and Self-Care After Abuse
  • What if I'm Not Straight?
The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

  • Contact Us
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Request Medical Records
  • Make a Gift
Sign in to My Health Online

Billing and Insurance

  • Pay a Bill
  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Estimate Costs
  • Medicare Advantage

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Community Benefit
  • Annual Report
  • News

Our Team

  • For Employees
  • For Medical Professionals
  • For Vendors
  • For Volunteers

Careers

  • Jobs at Sutter
  • Physician Jobs
  • Graduate Medical Education

Copyright © 2023 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

  • ADA Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
  • LinkedIn Opens new window
  • YouTube Opens new window
  • Facebook Opens new window
  • Twitter Opens new window
  • Instagram Opens new window
  • Glassdoor Opens new window

Cookie Policy

We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences