|
|
Center for Injury Prevention and Control April is Sexually Transmitted Disease Awareness Month
20,000,000
a) The number of condoms sold in the United States annually b) The number of new STD cases in the United States annually c) The 2011 population of Portugal
$16,000,000,000
a) The cost of STD related public service announcements annually b) The cost of treating STDs contracted in one year c) The total sales of Snuggies in the United States
If you picked “b” to both, congratulations! According to the CDC, these figures represent the most recent estimates – and even more striking is that over half of these annual cases are in individuals under the age of 24. The stigma and embarrassment of these infections complicate the usual barriers to treatment (i.e. insurance, access to health care, recognition of symptoms – and the often lack thereof), but with the high prevalence of STDs in this technology-savvy demographic, public health agencies and other organizations are turning to social media to enhance awareness and communication – you can even send an e-card to sexual partners to notify them of your diagnosis.
Of course, the best STD awareness starts with knowing your own status – contacting your health care provider or local health department (DC residents click here) for testing options is the best way to take action! Moving into March - and - BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH
Did you know more than 1.5 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury each year? Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur when a head injury – sometimes described as a “jolt” or “blow”, and can be caused by anything ranging from a direct impact to repeated shaking – results in changes in how brain cells function. Falls are the most common injury leading to TBI, and also result in the most Emergency Room visits and hospitalizations for TBI. However, recent media attention has focused on sports-related TBI, especially among children and adolescents. To help address this growing health concern, the Centers for Disease Control developed the Heads Up tool, available online. Additionally, many states have implemented return-to-play laws to guide the safe management of sports-related TBI – for more information, contact your local health care provider, school district, or us!
Source: The Centers for Disease Control. Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, 2002-2006.
Mission
The mission of the Center for Injury Prevention and Control is to reduce death and disability from intentional and unintentional injury. Our goal is to promote existing prevention methods and to optimize trauma care through education, collaboration with the community, and engaging in research contributing to the advancement of the field.
Current Projects
Education Educating clinicians, students, and our community about best practices, research advancements, and current trends in the world of injury prevention and research is a focus of CIPC. Please return for updates about news and local educational events.
Community Outreach CIPC is committed to improving the health and safety of our neighbors. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about events in the DC-metro area promoting violence and injury prevention and awareness!
Research CIPC is working with other organizations to develop research projects and welcomes inquiries for additional collaboration opportunities.
Contact Us The Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Department of Emergency Medicine
George Washington University
Medical Faculty Associates
2120 L Street NW,
Suite 450
Washington, DC 20037
202.741.2911
Director
Joneigh Khaldun, MD
jkhaldun@mfa.gwu.edu Marie White, PA-C, MPH
mwhite@mfa.gwu.edu
|
