Get Your Community Involved

Through Safe Communities America, the National Safety Council works with local communities to prevent needless deaths and disabling injuries. It provides a structure, administrative support, and years of experience and expertise in injury prevention in an effort to make our communities safer places to live, work and play.

Injuries at play, at work and on our roads are the leading cause of death among Americans ages 1 to 41, and the fifth leading cause of death overall. In 2007, there were 113,000 injury-related deaths and 24,100,000 disabling injuries. One out of every nine Americans sought medical attention for their injuries.

The cost of unintentional injuries in the U.S. is immense – $625.5 billion in 2007 or $2,100 for every person. Medical expenses, wage and productivity loss, and property damage all contribute to this staggering number, which is compounded by the enormous toll that pain and suffering inflicts on individuals, their families and their communities.

Injuries are preventable

By working together, communities can promote safety initiatives that can save lives. Historical data shows us that simple steps can make an enormous difference.   Poison prevention initiatives begun in the 1960s have greatly reduced poisoning deaths for children ages five and younger to 30 in 2005. Since 1975, more than 211,000 lives have been saved by buckling up while in a vehicle. Much of this successful work was done at the community level.

Safe Communities America, under the auspicies of the WHO Collaborating Center on Community Safety Promotion, encourages communities to work together to protect  residents.

Whether you represent a community safety organization, a business or are interested in safety because you want your community to be a safer place for you and your family to live, you can make a difference. To receive the prestigious International Safe Community designation, visit safecommunitiesamerica.org