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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Injury Prevention

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What is Injury? 

Injury is defined as “physical harm or damage to someone’s body.” Whether intentional or unintentional, injuries can be predicted and prevented.

Unintentional injuries include those that result from motor vehicle collisions (including those that involve pedestrians and bicyclists), drownings, falls, firearms, drug poisonings, and recreational and sports-related activities.

Intentional injuries result from interpersonal or self-inflicted violence, and include homicide, assaults, suicide and suicide attempts, child abuse and neglect (including child sexual abuse), intimate partner violence, elder abuse, and sexual assault.

Florida's Need for Injury Prevention

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among Florida residents ages 1-44 and the fourth leading cause of death overall after heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death overall among Florida residents (Florida Vital Statistics Annual Report 2019). In 2019, injuries claimed 18,159 lives and accounted for 8.8 percent of all resident deaths.

The leading causes of injuries in Collier County are falls, drug poisoning, and motor vehicle crashes.

Drowning Prevention

Children taking swimming lessonsFlorida leads the country in drowning deaths of children ages 1-4 years. According to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, drowning is the leading cause of death of children ages one to four in Collier County. The Safe & Healthy Children’s Coalition of Collier County understands the importance of water safety and makes great efforts to share drowning prevention methods. You can find a centralized location of various resources in Collier County including swimming lessons, CPR classes, and print materials at Safe & Healthy Children's Coalition.

The “WaterSmartFL: Water Safety Is Everyone’s Responsibility” initiative educates parents, caregivers, and communities about drowning risks and prevention strategies. The campaign identifies three layers to increase pool safety and reduce childhood drowning: supervision, barriers, and emergency preparedness. An on-line toolkit is available at www.watersmartfl.com.

Older Adult Falls Prevention

Unintentional falls are the leading cause of injury death among Florida residents ages 65 years and older and the fourth leading cause of injury death overall. In addition, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injury-related hospital admissions in Florida. Collier County’s older population (65 and over) made up 84% of those injured by falls reported in 2020.

There are many reasons why an older adult might fall, including a variety of biological, behavioral, and environmental factors. These risk factors include:

  • A previous fall
  • Chronic health conditions (e.g., arthritis, stroke)
  • Conditions in the home (e.g., slippery floors, loose rugs, cords on the floor, poor lighting)
  • Fear of falling
  • Medicines (including interaction effects)
  • Mobility problems (e.g., muscle weakness, balance)
  • Poor nutrition (leading to weakness, dizziness, fainting)
  • Poor vision or hearing

Older adults who have one or more of these conditions may have a higher risk of falling. The following practices are recommended for older adults to reduce their chances of falling and help them stay independent:

Older Adults moving
  • Exercising regularly (especially leg strengthening and improving balance).
  • Having an eye doctor check their vision at least once a year.
  • Making their home environment safer by using night lights, installing grab bars and non-slip mats in the bathroom, and securing carpet to the floor.
  • Reviewing their medicines with a doctor or pharmacist.
  • Stand up slowly to avoid dizziness.

Local Resources

Step Smart Collier is an all-volunteer public education non-profit that formed to educate care givers and older adults on ways to prevent accidental falls. They have a variety of resources available on their website.

Suicide Prevention

Suicide affects all ages. It is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-34, the fourth leading cause among people ages 34-54, and the fifth leading cause among people ages 45-54. In 2021, Collier County had a rate (per 100,000 population) of 14.9 deaths from suicide, which was just above Florida’s average rate of 13.8.

Some groups have higher suicide rates than others. Suicide rates vary by race/ethnicity, age, and other factors. The highest rates are among Native American/Alaskan Native and non-Hispanic White populations. Other Americans with higher than average rates of suicide are veterans, people who live in rural areas, and workers in certain industries and occupations, like mining and construction. Young people who identify as LGBTQIA+ have a higher rate of suicidal ideation and behavior compared to their peers who identify as straight.

Risk Factors of Suicide:

  • Previous suicide attempt
  • History of depression and other mental health illnesses
  • Serious illness such as chronic pain Mental Health
  • Criminal/legal problems
  • Job/financial problems or loss
  • Impulsive or aggressive tendencies
  • Substance use
  • Current of prior history of adverse childhood experience
  • Sense of hopelessness
  • Loss of relationships
  • Social isolation
  • Lack of access to healthcare
  • Historical trauma
  • Discrimination

Local Resources

David Lawrence Center's emergency mental health services center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All those in need are accepted and treated without regard for capacity to pay. You can reach them at 239-455-8500.

NAMI of Collier County offers mental health services through an array of programs for members of all ages and families. The NAMI Warm Line is a peer-run service for individuals seeking to connect with someone who has lived experience in mental health recovery. For English, call 1 (800) 945-1355. For Spanish, call 239-351-6723.

Substance Use and Overdose Prevention

Substance use develops when a substance such as alcohol or drugs is excessively used that likely leads to negative consequences including physical, social, or emotional harm. In Collier County, there were 295 drug poisoned-related hospitalizations and 111 deaths from drug-poisoning in 2021.

In Florida, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program, within the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), is the single state authority on substance abuse and mental health as designated by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Toll-Free Treatment Referral Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357). Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in both English and Spanish.

What should I do if I know someone who misuses opioids or may have a substance misuse disorder?

Treatment Locator

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED THE FACTS ABOUT HOW DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AFFECT YOUR BRAIN.

The Facts. Your Future.

Motor Vehicle Crashes

In 2020, there were 4,655 motor vehicles crashes in Collier County, and of those crashes there were 34 deaths. Although Collier County’s rate of motor vehicle crashes is consistently lower than the average rate of Florida’s, it is still one of the leading causes of injuries in Collier.

General Traffic/Motor Vehicle Safety Links

These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Florida Department of Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The Florida Department of Health bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.