The emergency physician's role in injury prevention.
New Mexico's successful campaign in establishing seat belt legislation is described, as is a unique program of alcohol and substance abuse prevention based in the emergency department. Results of a local study investigating hospital and emergency department costs of victims injured in automobile crashes are presented. A strategy is proposed that encourages joint efforts to influence public opinion and awareness, support necessary legislation, develop epidemiologic and intervention research, and encourage emergency medicine practitioners to act as a clearing house for outreach and prevention activities.
Bernstein
E
E
Department of Family, Community, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, Albuquerque.
Roth
P B
PB
Yeh
C
C
Lefkowits
D J
DJ
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004635:Emergency Medicine; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D009516:New Mexico; D010819:Physician's Role; D011639:Public Opinion; D012380:Role; D012622:Seat Belts; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*