Injury and Violence Prevention

The Miami-Dade County Injury Surveillance System (MDCISS) was initiated in 2004 to obtain accurate and timely information on the incidence and determinants of fatal and nonfatal injuries that occur to Miami-Dade residents. The objective of the MDCISS is to provide data that can be used to initiate or assist injury prevention programs and help measure their effectiveness. The MDCISS is a collaborative effort between the Miami-Dade County Health Department, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids-Miami, the University of Miami and Jackson Health Systems. It has been supported, in part, through funding from The Children’s Trust and the Health Foundation of South Florida.

Injuries are a major public health problem in Miami-Dade County and are the leading cause of death for county residents between the ages 15 to 44 years. Further, for every injury-related death to a county resident in 2022, there were an additional 11 nonfatal hospitalizations, and 121 emergency department visits due to injuries. 

Injuries to Miami-Dade County Residents During 2022

Injuries were responsible for 1,403 resident deaths in 2022, a decrease of -9.8% from 1,557 injury-related deaths during 2021.

Unintentional (accidental) injuries accounted for 930 (66.3%) of injury deaths, followed by suicides (243, 17.3%) and homicides (223, 15.9%).

Poisonings were the leading cause of injury-related death (326, 23.2%) followed by firearm injuries (314, 22.3%) and falls (189, 13.5%).

Firearm deaths slightly increased (9.8%) during 2022 compared to 2021. Over half (63.3%) of firearm deaths in 2022 were homicides, while 35.4% were suicides. There was 1 unintentional firearm death during 2022.

Injuries were responsible for 15,087 nonfatal hospitalizations to county residents in 2022. Falls (54.5%) were the leading cause of injury hospitalizations followed by poisonings (9.8%) and motor vehicle traffic occupant injuries (9.7%).

Injuries were responsible for 169,434 nonfatal emergency department (ED) visits to county residents in 2022. Falls (32.2%) were the leading cause of ED visits followed by struck by or against an object/person (11.5%).