People can get hurt either accidentally (through injuries) or on purpose (through violence). Injuries and violence are within the top 10 reasons for hospital stays in every age group in Pinellas County.

Most accidental injuries in Pinellas County are the result of falling, car crashes, poisoning or drowning. Pinellas County leads the state in deaths from poisoning and ranks fifth in the state for drowning deaths in children under five years old. Accidental injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in Pinellas County.

Violence includes hitting, pushing, biting, kicking, beating and shooting. People who can be violent include parents, grown children, boyfriends or girlfriends, husbands or wives, friends, brothers or sisters and strangers. Violence can cause everything from fear to broken bones to death. Violence includes self-inflicted injuries.  In Pinellas County, suicide is the 9th leading cause of death and homicide ranks 17th.  Together these forms of violence are the 8th leading cause of death in this county, slightly lower than the State as a whole.

The goal of the Pinellas County Health Department's Injury and Violence Prevention Program is to prevent and reduce the effect of all types of injuries and violence in Pinellas County.

Contact Information

Injury and Violence Prevention Liaison:

205 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. Street N. St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-824-6979 (Phone)

Domestic and Dating Violence:

All health department employees are trained to ask about domestic and dating violence, and how to effectively help victims and perpetrators.

Fall Prevention for Seniors:

The Pasco - Pinellas Fall Prevention Coalition works to raise community awareness about preventing falls among the county’s residents and visitors over 65 years old. Activities include a web site with fall prevention information and speakers who can make presentations to audiences who want to learn more about preventing injuries from falling The coalition also offers A Matter of Balance classes, training in strength and balance to help prevent falls for senior citizens.

Drowning Prevention:

Pinellas County ranks 5th in the State of Florida for drowning deaths of very young children.The Pinellas County Health Department participates in the Safe Kids Water Safety committee and its Florida Safe Pools campaign to increase awareness and the willingness for pool owners to properly install Layers of Protection.   Printed materials, video and public service announcements are available to the public at no charge, and presenters can attend community meetings and gatherings to help parents understand the best ways to keep their children safe around water. Visit FLSafePools.com for more information and to sign up for a pool safety check-up.

Prevention Research:

The injury Prevention Liaison can obtain data for local agencies and residents on various injuries, upon request.

Links and Referrals:

• Community Action Stops Abuse (CASA) - South County Domestic Violence Center
  24-hour access line: 727-895-4912

• The Haven of Religious Community Services (RCS) - North County Domestic Violence Center
  24-hour access line: 727-442-4128

• Fall Prevention Coalition
  

• Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors
  

• Safe Kids Coalition – Injury Prevention Tips for Kids
  

"We try non-violence for a week and when it doesn't work, we return to violence - which hasn't worked in hundreds of years." Theodore Rosak