title: Building safety into active living initiatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Efforts to promote environmental designs that facilitate opportunities for physical activity should consider the fact that injuries are the leading cause of death for Americans ages 1 to 44, with transportation-related injuries the most common cause. Drawing on the latest research and best practices in the field of injury prevention, the purpose of this article is to provide those working to promote physical activity with evidence-based recommendations on building in safety while designing active environments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature published from 1995 to 2012 was conducted to identify injury prevention strategies applicable to objectives in the Active Design Guidelines (ADG), which present design strategies for active living. Injury prevention strategies were rated according to the strength of the research evidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 18 urban design strategies and 9 building design strategies that promote safety. Evidence was strong or emerging for 14/18 urban design strategies and 7/9 building design strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADG strategies are often wholly compatible with well-accepted injury prevention principles. By partnering with architects and planners, injury prevention and public health professionals can help ensure that new and renovated spaces maximize both active living and safety.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States. Electronic address: kpollac1@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Keshia M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Maryanne M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States.
authors.forename: Andrea C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Society for Public Health Education, Washington, D.C., United States.
authors.forename: M Elaine
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Auld
authors.affiliation: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Sleet
authors.affiliation: Built Environment/Healthy Housing/Active Living/Chronic Disease Prevention Policy, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Karen K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004779:Environment Design; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009043:Motor Activity; D009519:New York City; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012449:Safety; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Building design; Physical activity; Safety; Urban design; Wounds and injuries