April 1, 2026

n public health, some of the biggest successes are things we never see. These include a crash that didn’t happen, a fall that was avoided, or violence that was stopped before it began. At El Paso County Public Health (EPCPH), the Injury and Violence Prevention Program works to stop injuries and violence before they happen.

The team uses data and works with community partners to help keep people safe and healthy across El Paso County.

Understanding the problem

In public health, “injury” and “violence” can mean many things:

• Injury: Physical harm to a person, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes falls, motor vehicle crashes, poisonings, and overdoses.
• Violence: Actions meant to hurt someone. This can include child abuse, partner violence, or other harmful behavior.

To understand what problems need the most attention, EPCPH studies different kinds of data. This includes hospital visits, emergency room records, police reports, and reports from the Colorado State Child Fatality Prevention System.

The data shows three top problems in El Paso County:

1. Infant Safe Sleep: Too many babies are dying from unsafe sleep situations that could be prevented.
2. Transportation Safety: People are getting hurt or killed in car crashes or while walking or biking.
3. Firearm Safety: Injuries involving guns are a concern.

All programs are based on proven safety methods. The team also works with experts to make sure they are using the best ideas and newest research.

Success in Action: The Safe Sleep Initiative

One of the program’s biggest successes is the countywide safe sleep program for babies. It started because too many infants were dying when they were sleeping.

Here are some of the results:

• Hospitals now teach better safe sleep practices.
• Families in need are eligible to receive items like cribs and sleep sacks to help babies sleep safely.
• More people are trained, including doctors, childcare workers, babysitters, and parents.

Working together

Public health programs need strong partnerships to succeed. This program works with:

• Hospitals and EMS: Share data and medical knowledge.
• Law Enforcement: Help find patterns in injuries and respond to problems.
• Schools and Mental Health Groups: Support young people and their well-being.
• Families and Survivors: Share their experiences to help improve programs.

Keeping people safe is everyone’s job. Simple actions—like making sure babies sleep safely and helping neighbors—can make a big difference in building a safer El Paso County.

For more information visit the Injury and Violence Prevention Program page.