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Abstract
The public health burden of injuries is great. They lead all other causes of death from ages 1 to 44 in the U.S. Injuries are caused primarily by manufactured objects — passenger cars and firearms rank first and second as causes of injury death in the U.S. Injury control is most effectively accomplished through policies aimed at modifying products and the environments in which they are used. Public policy issues in injury control are similar to those for most environmental hazards — achieving public health in an industrial corporate economy.
After describing the problems of injuries, and the theoretical and practical approaches to their control, injuries from passenger cars and firearms are reviewed in detail. Passenger car injuries have been reduced through governmental regulation — including air bags and other restraints systems, such as seat belts. Reduction of firearm injuries is most likely to be accomplished through intervention in manufacturing and marketing practices to reduce availability. It took more than 25 years and arduous public debate to reduce passenger car injuries. Similar efforts will be required to reduce injuries from firearms.