Unintentional Injury
Community and Family (Cross Age)
Note
*: Statistically unstable
Note that data are for events, not unduplicated cases; an individual may be treated and discharged more than once, or from multiple facilities, in San Diego County.
Fatal unintentional injury outcomes were removed from the data prior to analysis.
Unintentional injury standard, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), CCSR for ICD-10-CM, 2025. Rates per 100,000 residents. Counts by demographic group may not match total counts due to missing data.
HHSA Regions: Health and Human Services Agency regions
Data not available:
N/A
Race-Ethnicity categories:
Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander, Non-Hispanic Black, Non-Hispanic White, Non-Hispanic Other
Sources:
California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), Emergency Department Database and Patient Discharge Database, 2016-2023.
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Population Estimates, 2016 (v9/2018), 2017 (v2/2019), 2018 (v7/2019), 2019 (v5/2020), 2020-2021 (v9/2022, 2022), 2022 (v10/23), 2023 (v23.1/2025). Population estimates for 2016-2021 were derived using the 2010 Census; population estimates for 2022-2023 were derived from the 2020 Census.
Prepared by County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Public Health Services, Community Health Statistics Unit. https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/hhsa/programs/phs/community_health_statistics/
(Data exported: 5/2025)
What is the indicator?
This indicator—the rate of non-fatal unintentional injuries per 100,000 children ages 0-14—shows trends in how many children are injured severely enough to require hospitalization. These data are routinely reported on hospital discharge reports; and collected by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency.
Why is this important?
Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of death among children and youth, surpassing all childhood diseases combined. Despite being labeled “unintentional,” these injuries are not accidents-they are both predictable and preventable. By addressing factors such as the environment, behavior, product design, social norms, and public policies, many of these tragedies can be avoided. Common causes of unintentional injuries include motor vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, burns, poisoning, and suffocation. These incidents can result in serious harm or long-term disabilities, deeply impacting a child’s quality of life. Unintentional injury death rates are highest among rural communities, children under 1 year old or older youth, and Native American and Black children.
What strategies can make a difference?
The following two categories of evidence-based and best practices are used across the country to reduce unintentional injuries:
Strong laws and enforcement save lives. Key safety measures include:
- Mandatory use of seat belts, child car seats, and booster seats
- Smoke detectors, hot water heater controls, and safety gates in rental and owned properties.
- Pool fencing, pool alarms, and self-closing gates.
- Strict safety standards for children’s toys and products
- Use of helmets for all sport recreation activities (motorized and non-motorized) that place children at risk of traumatic brain injury and other head injuries.
- Bans on cell phone use (including hands-free) and texting among youth while driving.
Educating families saves lives. Key educational topics include:
- Water safety: Risks in pools, bathtubs, and even buckets
- Infant sleep safety: Following the ABCs of Safe Sleep
- Home safety: Outlet covers, cabinet locks, safety gates, water heater controls
- Car safety: Proper use of car seats, booster seats, and seat belts
- Supervision & childproofing: Securing furniture, avoiding poisons and baby walkers
- Helmet use: For biking, skating, skiing, off-road riding, and more
- Burns, suffocation & choking: Awareness and prevention
- Fire safety: Including home fire drills and fire-skills training
- Hazardous clothing: Avoiding flammable sleepwear and unsafe costumes
- Firearm safety: Safe storage and programs like ASK (Asking Saves Kids)
- Head injuries: Recognizing symptoms and knowing when to seek care