الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 87 |  |  |
| | | from | 87 | | |
Abstract
Trauma is a significant public health problem; it has been identified as the single, most
serious health and social problem facing developed societies today. Trauma is not only a
problem of industrialized countries, but is increasingly being recognized as a global public health
concern. Throughout the world, injuries are now the leading cause of death during half of the
human lifespan
Both fatal and nonfatal injuries result in tremendous emotional, financial and productivity
loss to the injured, their families and society as a whole. The direct and indirect costs of trauma,
including hospitalizations, therapy, rehabilitation, drugs, insurance and forgone earnings, have
been estimated at between $158 and $180 billion annually for total lifetime costs in the United
States.
Injuries do not occur by chance or unexpectedly, but in fact can be predicted and often
times prevented. As a result, individuals in the injury control and trauma care community have
abandoned the term ”accident” and have replaced it with more appropriate terms. The term
”unintentional injury” describes the bodily injury that results from falls, motor vehicle crashes,
burns, sports injuries and other non-intentional events.