It’s a dangerous world out there.
But the some of the region’s residents can breathe a small sigh of relief as Maryland received one of the best scores in the country for its injury prevention policies while the District and Virginia fell behind, according to a report released Tuesday.
Maryland received high grades for its hospital aftercare monitoring policies and protective helmet laws, receiving an injury prevention score of eight out of 10 in “The Facts Hurt” — a report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The District scored a seven, and Virginia came in last in the region with a score of six.
Only California and New York ranked higher than Maryland.
Fran Phillips, deputy secretary of Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said the report’s findings showed the state has made “a lot of progress in lots of areas for injury prevention.” Still, she said, there was room for improvement, especially in the state’s handling of teens involved in violent relationships.
“In Maryland we’re aware there are some models in other states having to do with peace orders and protective orders [for teens] we’re researching this summer,” Phillips said.
Experts said they hoped the report could highlight areas where states could take more preventative actions to reduce injuries and save money.
“I think everyone accepts a certain level of risk in life but I don’t think anyone accepts that we need to be taking unnecessary risks,” said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health.
The District stands out among its neighbors for being the only local jurisdiction to receive a grade of A for its legal protections for teens in violent relationships. But it’s the only jurisdiction in the nation that does not have a prescription drug monitoring program nor has plans to implement one, according to the report. While such programs are aimed at preventing accidental overdoses, Levi said D.C.’s score in this category did not necessarily mean the city had a high rate of prescription drug overdoses.
However, the District does have a higher injury rate per capita than its neighbors, according to the report. Nationally, D.C.’s injury rate ranks 29th, with New Mexico ranked as having the worst injury rate. Maryland’s injury rate ranks 37th, and Virginia’s ranks 39th.
Virginia’s score was docked for lax laws regarding transportation safety. It is the only local jurisdiction that does not require children to wear bike helmets, and drivers can only be cited for not wearing a seat belt if they are pulled over for some other offense, the report said.
