The roles played by objects in our environment

We normally think of injuries as caused by uncontrollable, chance events. Did you? Since taking this class, have you changed your way of thinking about the preventability of unintentional injuries?

In your initial post, discuss how your awareness of the roles played by objects in our environment (for example, those found at home or work or in leisure settings) has changed with respect to being the cause of injuries. In other words, do you see these objects differently? Also, share your personal definition of injury intentionality, and give three scenarios in which environmental factors might contribute to unintentional injuries.

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Sample Answer

Yes, before taking this class, I did think of injuries as caused by uncontrollable, chance events. However, since taking this class, I have changed my way of thinking about the preventability of unintentional injuries. I now realize that many injuries are caused by preventable factors, such as the design of objects, the layout of environments, and human behavior.

My awareness of the roles played by objects in our environment has also changed. I now see objects as potential hazards that can cause injuries if they are not designed or used safely. For example, I am more aware of the risks of using sharp objects, such as knives, and I am more careful when using ladders and other tools.

Full Answer Section

I define injury intentionality as the degree to which an injury is caused by a deliberate action. An intentional injury is one that is caused by someone who meant to harm another person. An unintentional injury is one that is not caused by a deliberate action. Unintentional injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, including environmental hazards, human error, and product defects.

Here are three scenarios in which environmental factors might contribute to unintentional injuries:

  1. A child falls and injures themselves while playing on a playground with broken equipment.

  2. A worker slips and falls on a wet floor in a workplace that does not have proper safety signage or training.

  3. A driver is injured in a car accident caused by a pothole in the road.

In all of these scenarios, the environment played a role in causing the injury. The playground equipment was not safe, the workplace was not safe, and the road was not safe. These injuries could have been prevented if the environment had been designed and maintained more safely.

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