[The injury rate and tactics for health promotion]

The authors draw attention to possibilities of a marked reduction of the injury rate based on a statistical investigation and analysis of the causes and sources of injuries. The injury rate is the second most important cause of impaired health and is the most important cause of loss of the living and working potential in Czechoslovakia. The main cause of injuries is the human factor; therefore injuries are to a considerable extent avertible and can be influenced to a considerable extent. Areas of frequent injuries which have been for a long time the object of perfect records, analysis and social action such as e.g. the injury rate at work or during transport have an unequivocal declining tendency as far as the number of deaths and severe casualties is concerned. The paper reveals hitherto statistically not recorded areas of injuries and risk groups of the population on which investigations and preventive measures against injuries should be focused.