UNINTENTIONAL TRAUMA PREVENTION AND INJURY CONTROL: CURRICULUM DESIGN FOR RESIDENT TRAINING.

Unintentional trauma and injury is the leading cause of death in the United States for the age group 0 to 44 years. In the pediatric population, it is responsible for massive morbidity. Approximately 39 permanently disabling injuries occur for each fatality reported. In Illinois, 25,828 persons ages 1 to 4 years were significantly injured in automobile mishaps during the years 1975 to 1981. Automobile related injuries constituted approximately 50 percent of all unintentional trauma. Falls, fire, smoke, drowning, ingestion, aspiration, bicycle mishaps, and other less common (but as significant) incidents such as those related to firearms and consumer products comprised the remainder of etiologies.