Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention

Abstract

Injuries kill and maim millions each year and seriously impact the lives of countless loved ones. Yet until recently they've been considered a random, normal part of life. Preventing injuries, on the other hand, requires not only effective communication with the public, but also a reliable framework for creating and evaluating suitable interventions. The Handbook of Injury and Violence Prevention is the first book to address both halves of this challenge, reviewing evidence-based intervention programs in depth so professionals can identify successful, promising, and ineffective (and potentially harmful) prevention strategies. Over fifty experts present the current landscape of intervention methods--from risk reduction to rethinking social norms--as they address some of the most prevalent forms of accidental and violent injury, as well as emerging areas. (a) Overview chapters examine the social and economic scope of unintentional and violent injury today; (b) Extensive literature review of specific intervention programs to prevent violence and injury; (c) Special chapters on childhood injuries, alcohol-related accidents, and disasters; (d) "Interventions in the Field" section offers solid guidelines for implementing and improving existing programs; (e) Critical analysis of issues involved in delivering programs to wider audiences; and (f) Helpful appendices list relevant agencies and professional resources. This dual focus on intervention and application makes the Handbook a bedrock text for professionals involved in delivering or managing prevention programs. Its what-works-now approach gives it particular utility in the graduate classroom, and researchers will benefit from the critical attention paid to knowledge gaps in the field. It is a major resource for any reader committed to reducing the number of incidents "just waiting to happen." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: cover)