Injury

Injury is damage to the organs or tissues of the body resulting from external force—such as blows, falls, burns, chemicals, electricity, or extreme cold and heat. Injuries are classified by the type of force, its intensity, and the location on the body affected.

In public health, injuries are divided into unintentional (such as road crashes, falls, occupational injuries) and intentional (assault or self-harm). This distinction affects how prevention is planned, because the causes and prevention measures differ.

Types

The most common type is mechanical injury: open wounds that break the skin, bone fractures, blunt trauma, crush injuries, and internal injury without visible skin damage. There are also burns (from heat, chemicals, electricity, radiation), cold injury, and head injury from blunt impact to the head.

How the body responds

When tissues are damaged, inflammation begins: bleeding is stopped, immune cells arrive, and new tissue is formed. Healing depends on the severity of the injury, its location, the age of the person, and whether other conditions (such as diabetes) are present. Some wounds leave scars.

Treatment and emergency care

Emergency care begins with ensuring breathing, opening the airway, and maintaining circulation. Bleeding is stopped by direct pressure. Broken bones are immobilized; if head or spine injury is suspected, the person is moved with special care. The next stage may involve cleaning, suturing, pain relief medication, and tetanus immunization for contaminated wounds.

Prevention

Prevention depends on environmental and regulatory changes: seatbelts and helmets in vehicles, traffic regulation, workplace safety, limiting alcohol consumption while driving, and designing homes to reduce falls in elderly people. First aid training reduces deaths from manageable injuries.