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In this section:
- Leading Causes of Injury Data
- Falls and Fall Prevention Data
- Road Safety Data
- Concussion and Head Injury Data
- Violence Data
- Injury, Injury Prevention, and Violence Reports
- Archived Injury, Injury Prevention, and Violence Reports
Leading Causes of Injury Data
Injury is one of the leading causes of premature death and disability in Ottawa. In 2014, 18% of Ottawa residents aged 12 years and older reported being injured in the past year. [1] Many factors often come into play when injuries occur:
- environmental influences such as the design of everyday objects and structures,
- the use of protective equipment,
- underlying social factors or other intrinsic factors such as age, sex, substance use, health and fitness.
Most injuries are not “accidents” because they are preventable. Yet the prevention of injuries is far from straightforward. Injury prevention strategies often consist of multifaceted efforts that address behaviours, policy and environment, the social determinants of health, and involve multiple sectors.
For more information on injury prevention and safety, please refer to Ottawa Public Health's Injury Prevention and Safety webpage.
Leading Causes of Injury Deaths |
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In Ottawa:
Figure 1. The top three leading causes of injury death for Ottawa residents, all ages, from 2000 to 2012 |
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Data Source and Notes for Figure 1 |
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Ontario Mortality Data (2000-2012). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Falls [ICD-10-CA W00-W19]; Suicide [ICD-10-CA X60-X84, Y87.0]; Unintentional poisonings/overdose [ICD-10-CA X40-X49].
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Data Table for Figure 1 |
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Leading Causes of Injury-related Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations
In Ottawa:
- Unintentional and intentional injuries to residents accounted for over 92,200 emergency department (ED) visits in 2017. Approximately 6,600 of these visits were hospitalized. [3]
- Falls were the leading cause of injury-related ED visits (28,367) (Figure 2), hospitalizations (2,749) (Figure 3), and deaths (132). [2,3]
- Falls were the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization in all age groups, with the exception of 15 to 24 year olds (Table 4). Self-harm was the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization for 15 to 24 year olds. [3]
Figure 2. Leading causes of injury-related emergency department visits for Ottawa residents, all ages, 2017
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Data Source and Notes for Figure 2 |
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Unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted June 8, 2018.
a “U” codes included only if accompanied with a “S” or “T” code from Chapter XIX. U codes were available for ER visits and hospitalizations only. |
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Data Table for Figure 2 |
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Figure 3. Leading causes of injury-related hospitalizations for Ottawa residents, all ages, 2017
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Data Source and Notes for Figure 3 |
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Hospitalizations resulting from unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted June 8, 2018
a “U” codes included only if accompanied with a “S” or “T” code from Chapter XIX. U codes were available for ER visits and hospitalizations only. |
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Data Table for Figure 3 |
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Data Source and Notes for Table 4 |
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Hospitalizations resulting from unscheduled emergency department visits, National Ambulatory Care System (2017). Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care IntelliHealth Ontario. Extracted June 8, 2018.
a “U” codes included only if accompanied with a “S” or “T” code from Chapter XIX. U codes were available for ER visits and hospitalizations only. |
Falls and Fall Prevention Data
Falls |
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Although falls are largely preventable, they represent a tremendous health and economic burden. In Ottawa: |
Road Safety Data
Seat Belt Use |
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All Ontario motor vehicle drivers and passengers are required to wear a seat belt. Proper use of seat belts reduces the risk of death and serious injury in a collision.
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Impaired Driving |
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Alcohol, cannabis, over-the-counter and prescription medications, and other drugs can affect reaction time, judgement, coordination, and motor skills. These substances can impair driving and increase the risk of collision and injury.
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Distracted Driving |
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Distracted driving (e.g., texting or using a cell phone, eating or drinking, tending to a child or pet, searching for music) increases the risk of collision, injury, and death.
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Concussion and Head Injury Data
A concussion is a brain injury that causes changes in the way the brain functions. It can lead to symptoms that can be physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural and/or related to sleep. A concussion may be caused either by a direct blow to the head, face, or neck or by a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head that causes the brain to move rapidly within the skull.
| Concussion-related Physician Visits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Figure 4. Rate of concussion and head injury-related doctor visits (all ages) in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa from 2003 to 2016
Figure 5. Average rate of concussion-related physician visits by sex and age group in Ottawa from 2014 to 2016
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| Concussion-related Emergency Department Visits | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Figure 6. Rate of concussion-related ED visits (all ages) in Ottawa and Ontario-less-Ottawa from 2003 to 2018
Figure 7. Average rate of concussion-related ED visits by sex and age group in Ottawa, from 2016 to 2018
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| Head Injuries Among Children and Youth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Parent Reported Concussions Among Children and Youth
Lifetime Head Injury
Past Year Head Injury
Ever had Traumatic Brain Injury
Reason for Head Injury in the Past Year
Figure 8. Main reason for a head injury in the past year among Ontario students in Grades 7 to 12, 2017
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| Parent Awareness About Concussions and Head Injuries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion:
Awareness about the importance of limiting certain cognitive activities following a concussion:
Awareness of “Return to Play Protocol”
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Violence Data
Violence is the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation. [7] Exposure to violence is linked to poor mental and physical health outcomes, fear, social isolation, and risky behaviours, including criminal behaviour. [8,9,10,11,12,13]
Local data sources for estimates of violence are lacking, and the limited data that is available may underrepresent the violence experienced by Ottawa residents. For more information about violence and it’s impact on health, refer to Status of Mental Health in Ottawa Report 2018 and The Chief Public Health Officer’s Report on the State of Public Health in Canada 2016: A Focus on Family Violence in Canada.
Family Violence |
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Bullying |
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Physical and Sexual Assault |
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Injury, Injury Prevention, and Violence Reports
| State of Ottawa's Health, 2023 |
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This report is a resource for OPH and health partners to help plan or enhance programs and services, identify strategic priorities, identify gaps, and monitor changes in the health of people living in Ottawa. This report also fulfills the requirement for public health units to assess and report on population health, as stipulated in the Ontario Public Health Standards. |
Archived Injury, Injury Prevention, and Violence Reports
Results from the Older Adults Falls Prevention Survey |
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In 2012, OPH conducted the Older Adults Falls Prevention Survey by telephone with 1,050 Ottawa adults aged 65 years and older living at home. The fact sheets and infographics are intended to help service providers who work with older adults to tailor awareness and education campaigns on preventing falls, to support client education, and to inform program priorities and policy development. A description of OPH, partner and community falls prevention services are included at the end of each fact sheet. Summary [ PDF 98 KB ] Introduction [ PDF 101.81 KB ] Annual Physical & Vision Exam and Medication Review
Falls Prevention Home Safety:
Perception of Falls Risk and Prevention:
Physical Activity:
Vitamin D and Calcium Intake:
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Burden of Injury Report, 2010 |
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The Burden of Injury in Ottawa report 2010 provides an in-depth assessment of the type and frequency of injuries affecting children, youth and adults in Ottawa. Data from emergency department visits (ED visits), hospitalizations and deaths from 2001 to 2008 help paint a picture of the injuries most affecting Ottawa residents. Burden of Injury Report, 2010 [PDF 12 MB] Burden of Injury Report: Knowledge to Action Report [PDF 886 KB] |
References
References |
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