Injury and Violence Prevention

Why is preventing injuries and violence important?

Unintentional injuries and acts of violence are the leading cause of death for children and young people in El Paso County and across the United States. Preventing these tragedies can not only save lives but also improve the quality of life and long-term health of our citizens. El Paso County Public Health is committed to keeping our citizens safe from preventable injuries and acts of violence through a variety of community-based initiatives.

How can you keep your child safe?

Safe Storage

Safely storing hazardous items

Keep hazardous items such as firearms, prescription medications and substances, like alcohol or drugs, securely stored in a location that is inaccessible to children. Simply putting these items out of sight is not enough to prevent harm. To safely store hazards in the home:

  • Items should be stored in a locked cabinet, safe, vault or storage case in a location that is inaccessible to children
    • Consider changing locations as your child gets older and may have more access to this area
    • Ensure children never know the code or where the key is stored

Helmet Safety

Remember to wear a helmet and fit it properly

Helmets work best when they are adjusted to fit your head perfectly! Get the safest fit by following the “Three 2s”:

  • The ridge of your helmet should be a two-finger width from your eyebrow
  • Make a V with two fingers and ensure the straps around your ear fit snuggly in that shape
  • Buckle your chin strap and tighten it until you can fit two fingers between the strap and your chin while your tongue is sticking out

Young Driver Safety

Training helps teen drivers

Starting to drive is a wonderful milestone for your teen and you can make that experience even more positive by encouraging safe driving behaviors. The No. 1 cause of teen crashes is driver inexperience, which is a factor that is hard to control, making it even more important for young drivers to not take any other risks on the road.

  • Traffic Safety Programs for Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations

    Our community partners offer a variety of comprehensive traffic safety education programs designed for schools and youth-serving organizations to implement with assistance from their staff. If you are interested, please reach out to these contacts:

Child Passenger and Car Seat Safety

Colorado Car Seat Requirements

Child Age/Size Statutory Requirement
Less than 1 year and weighing less than 20 pounds Properly secured in a rear-facing car seat in a back seat of the vehicle
1-4 years and weighing 20-40 pounds Properly secured in a rear-facing or forward-facing car seat
Children up to 8 years Properly secured in a child restraint system, such as booster seat, according to the manufacturer’s instructions
8-15 years Properly restrained in a seat belt or child restraint system according to manufacturer’s instructions

Source: Sections 42-4-236 and 42-4-237, C.R.S.

Local Free Car Seat Inspection Stations

One way to know if your car seat is safe is to have it inspected.

Appointments at Colorado Springs Police Department Stations
Appointments at Other El Paso County Organizations

Resources for Free Car Seats

Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments has a limited amount of car seats available for free to low-income families in El Paso County. If you need a free car seat for your child, please contact tiaquinta@ppacg.org.

Violence Prevention

Violence Prevention for Schools and Youth-Serving Organizations

Creating a community free of violence starts with establishing a foundation of empowerment among our young people. If you are a school professional or youth-serving organization interested in having a tailored presentation about violence prevention for youth, please contact TESSA’s Youth Education & Outreach Advocates via this form: https://www.tessacs.org/youth-childrens-presentation-forms/

Local Domestic Violence Resources

For All Survivors:

TESSA
Kingdom Builders Family Life Center

For Native American and Indigenous Survivors:

Haseya Advocate Program

How can you keep your baby safe?

Safe Sleep

Why is infant safe sleep so important?

As families in our community grow, we want all parents and caregivers to have the education and resources needed to keep their baby safe. Unsafe sleep environments are the leading cause of unnatural death for infants in El Paso County, but most of these deaths are preventable by removing and reducing risk factors.

What are common risk factors in sleep-related infant deaths?

Reviews of sleep-related infant deaths in El Paso County from 2019-2023 showed that:

  • 98% had soft bedding and/or toys in sleep environment
  • 73% were not sleeping in a crib or bassinet
  • 57% were not sleeping on back
  • 53% were sleeping with other people (co-sleeping)

How do I create a safe sleep environment for my baby?

Creating a safe sleep environment

  • Share your room with baby, but never your bed
  • Use a firm and flat sleep surface with only a fitted sheet
  • Keep baby’s sleep area clear of all objects including toys, pillows, and blankets
  • Put baby on their back to sleep for nights and naps
  • Make sure all caregivers are alcohol, drug, and tobacco-free around baby

What else should I know to keep my baby safe?

No Product Can Prevent Death

  • Breathing and motion monitors are not effective at detecting or preventing sleep-related deaths
  • Many wedgers and positioners that claim to protect baby cause more risk for sleep-related death

Breast Milk Protects Babies

  • Feeding babies breast milk is a proven way to reduce the risk of sleep-related death
  • Create a safety plan for late night feeding to ensure you are awake and alert

Stop Swaddling Once Baby Rolls

  • Swaddling does not reduce the risk of sleep-related death but may help to calm baby and reduce crying
  • Avoid swaddling once baby starts to roll over on their own (around 3 months old)

Have questions about safe sleep or need resources?

Please contact safesleep@elpasoco.com for questions about how to create a safe sleep environment or to get connected with resources.

Safe Soothing

How do I soothe my baby safely?

Every baby is different, but here are some tips and tricks for staying calm while responding to your baby’s crying and fussiness. Follow the 5 S’s to soothe your crying baby safely:

  • Swaddle: Swaddle baby in a thin blanket or use a swaddle with Velcro to provide a secure feeling
  • Side-Stomach Position: Put baby on their side or stomach while you hold them
  • Swinging or Swaying: Gently move baby side to side
  • Shushing: Make a sshh sound or use a white noise machine. Try to match your baby’s volume.
  • Sucking: Use a pacifier to comfort baby

Why does my baby cry so much?

Don’t worry! Crying is a normal part of baby’s development. Infants go through a stage of crying and fussiness that starts around 2 weeks old and ends around 3-5 months old. This is known as the period of PURPLE crying:

Peak of crying

  • Baby may cry more at 2 months and less at 3-5 months

Unexpected

  • Crying comes and goes, and you don’t know why

Resists

  • Baby may not stop crying no matter what you do

Pain-like face

  • Crying baby may look like they are in pain, even if not

Long-lasting

  • Crying as much as 5 hours per day, or even more

Evening

  • Baby may cry more in the late afternoon or evening

What are we doing to keep the community safe?

El Paso County Pubic Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention program is involved in a variety of initiatives.

Impaired Driving Prevention

About the Funding

El Paso County Public Health was awarded the Community-Based Impaired Driving Prevention Grant from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in 2023. This five-year grant provides is funded by fines paid by impaired drivers to the Colorado Persistent Drunk Driving (PDD) Cash Fund. To learn more about this funding visit:

Persistent Drunk Driving and Law Enforcement Assistance Funds

Data Sharing

An important aspect of spreading awareness about the issue of impaired driving in our community is sharing the data that informs prevention strategies. This includes impaired driving crashes, fatalities and injuries, Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests, and self-reported impaired driving among youth. Data is shared through a variety of interactive formats throughout the community. If you would like to request impaired driving data from El Paso County, please see the contact information below.

Community Outreach and Education

Impaired driving prevention includes connecting directly with citizens at community events, where we provide education and safe driving tips. If you are interested in having an impaired driving prevention booth at your community event, please see the contact information below.

Emma Bernick
Public Health Planner
Injury & Violence Prevention
emmabernick@elpasoco.com
(719) 640-2612

Child Fatality Review Team

About the Team

The El Paso County Child Fatality Review Team works to save lives in our community by reviewing the death of anyone under the age of 18 in El Paso County. The goal is to understand if the death could have been avoided and identify strategies to prevent other children from being harmed under those circumstances. The review team is facilitated by El Paso County Public Health and maintained in partnership with the El Paso County Coroner’s Office. Review team members represent a variety of county leadership and community partners.

Child Fatality Data Dashboard

To learn more about the child fatality trends and data in El Paso County and across Colorado, please visit the Colorado Child Fatality Data Dashboard.

Colorado Child Fatality Data Dashboard

Review Team Members Include:

  • Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Colorado Springs Police Department
  • El Paso County Attorney’s Office
  • El Paso County Coroner’s Office
  • El Paso County Department of Human Services
  • El Paso County Public Health
  • El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
  • Fort Carson Family Advocacy Program
  • Fountain Police Department
  • 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office
  • School Districts:
  • Harrison School District 2,
  • Widefield School District 3
  • Fountain– Fort Carson School District 8
  • Colorado Springs School District 11
  • Cheyenne Mountain School District 12
  • Academy School District 20
  • Falcon School District 49