UIowa Injury Center

📢 New blog post –A spotlight on rural #veteran suicide. Josh Gautreaux is a PhD candidate in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa College of Public Health. He studies how veterans’ use of Veterans Administration (V.A.) services affects #suicide rates during what is known as the ‘deadly gap’—the first year after a service member returns to civilian life, when veterans face an increased risk of suicide and substance use. He spoke about his dissertation research in March 2026, when he joined the UI IPRC and other CDC-funded Injury Control Research Centers for a congressional briefing in Washington D.C. This event highlighted the importance of mental health and injury prevention research. “I think that the higher we get in academia, the less represented veterans are,” Gautreaux said. “I’m speaking for and representing a lot of my brothers and sisters who don’t have this opportunity.” 🔗 Go here to read the full post: bit.ly/4mMk87S

🚲 A new University of Iowa study explores what influences the #safety of adolescents’ bicycling routes to school — and whether popular navigation apps are helping or hindering safe route choices. Using GPS and helmet camera data from 32 adolescents (ages 10–15) and survey responses from both students and parents, researchers evaluated the safety of routes based on environmental, traffic, and roadway characteristics. 🔎 Key findings: • Younger students and those living in more bicycle-friendly neighborhoods selected safer routes. •Sidewalk and street riding were associated with lower safety scores compared to bicycle paths. 70% of trip time was spent riding on sidewalks. • Routes suggested by Komoot — as well as the routes students actually chose — were safer than those recommended by Google Maps bicycle routing. The study highlights the importance of: ✅ Investing in safer #bicycling infrastructure ✅ Supporting parents and students in developing safe bicycling behaviors and route-selection skills ✅ Improving navigation tools to better prioritize bicyclist safety 🔗 Link to the full publication: bit.ly/4urmqwi

Learn how SAVIR Member Dr. Kari K. Harland bridges data and humanity to prevent intimate partner and teen dating violence in this SAVIR member spotlight. Read her profile at buff.ly/ZJfGhPY

🚜 New research uses AI to better understand agricultural injuries Agriculture remains one of the most dangerous industries in the U.S., yet injuries are often underreported—making it harder to design effective safety solutions. A UI IPRC pilot study tackled this gap by analyzing over 2,400 real-world agricultural incidents using advanced machine learning. This study was a collaboration with the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence at the College of Engineering. 🔍 What researchers found: ➡️ Their models were able to accurately predict whether injuries were fatal or non-fatal. ➡️ Key factors influencing severity include: o Helmet use o Age of the victim o Type of equipment or hazard involved ➡️️ Context matters: factors like location and a person’s role in the incident can change outcomes in meaningful ways. 💡 These findings offer practical, data-driven insights to support targeted safety strategies and inform policy—helping stakeholders take a more proactive approach to agricultural safety. 🔗 Link to full publication: bit.ly/4fh9Rib

New University of Iowa research sheds light on #rural teens’ exposure to #firearm violence and how these experiences shape their beliefs about firearm safety. Researchers surveyed more than 3,200 adolescents (ages 13–18) at the 2021 National FFA Convention to better understand their experiences with firearm-related violence. 🔍What did they find? • Over one-third (35%) had experienced a school lockdown due to potential firearm violence concerns. • Nearly half (46%) knew someone who had been injured or killed by gunfire — and among these adolescents, 46% knew someone with an unintentional injury/death. • About 10% had personally witnessed someone being threatened with a firearm. • Teens who had experienced a lockdown were more likely to agree with multiple firearm safety interventions. • Participants who knew someone that had been injured or killed by firearms had higher proportions that believed firearms in the home made them safer. 🔗 Link to the full study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics: bit.ly/4doaR2E

🎉 Today, we mark a big milestone – 10 years of our Injury Blog! Our monthly Injury Blog has brought together researchers, students, and injury and violence prevention partners to share research, ideas, and stories. 💛 We’re grateful to everyone who has read, contributed, and supported this work. Stay tuned – there's more ahead! #Blogiversary 🔗 Link to our full blog: bit.ly/4e7KzTd

The #SAVIR2026 conference is April 13-15 in Providence, RI. We are excited to be exhibiting our center! If you are attending, stop by our table to learn about our #rural injury and violence prevention research and connect!

💛Tomorrow 3/25 is #1DayForIowa, the University of Iowa's 24-hour online giving day! Your gift can support our center's critical work in #injury and #violence prevention. Every gift makes an impact! Give here: 1dayforiowa.org/iprc26

📢 New blog post A new University of Iowa study found that mental illness is linked to #violence overall, but not specifically to #firearm violence or mass shootings. Researchers analyzed data from a sample of 4,550 individuals incarcerated for less than two years from the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates, a large database of approximately 25,000 incarcerated adults. The study was published in Justice Quarterly. 🔗 Go here to read the full post: bit.ly/482VQQE

The UI IPRC joined our fellow CDC Injury Control Research Centers (ICRCs) for a congressional briefing in Washington D.C. about the importance of mental health and #injury prevention research. Josh Gautreaux, PhD student @UIowaCPH and Marine Corps Veteran, presented "Investing in the Next Generation: How Research Training Strengthens Our Response to Rural Veteran Suicide Risk." #rural #veterans #suicide @UMInjuryCenter @UNC_IPRC

A new @uiowa multi‑phase study developed and tested a patient decision aid (PtDA) tailored for Reserve and National Guard women #Veterans to promote safe #firearm storage and #suicide prevention through informed decision-making. Researchers used interviews, surveys, and user‑testing to develop and refine the PtDA based on Veteran and provider input. Researchers found: ➡️ Veterans reported high satisfaction with the PtDA’s information, tone, and preventative approach. ➡️ Among those using shared decision‑making (SDM), nearly half had loaded, accessible firearms, and 70% said SDM made them more likely to create and act on a safety plan. Veterans’ high satisfaction with this PtDA indicates its potential to encourage firearm safety planning, engage support, and foster firearm safety conversations to prevent suicide among women Veterans. 🔍 Learn more about the study: bit.ly/4aWc54d

🧠 Brain Injury Awareness Month begins in a few days... Maggie Ferguson, project director for the Disability and Injury Prevention Programs @IowaHHS, is shining a light on brain injury in #Iowa – a common, often undiagnosed chronic condition that can cause lifelong challenges without an individual’s awareness. According to the 2023 Iowa BRFSS survey, approximately 570,000 adult Iowans (26%) ages 18 and older have experienced a brain injury. In our new blog post, Maggie discusses why lifetime brain injury screening is important, why proper treatment and prevention are critical for young people, and how Iowa is creating stronger #brain injury programming across the state. 👉 Read the blog post: bit.ly/4saRQ8v #concussions #TBI

New research from the University of Iowa offers new insight into how #concussions relate to sleep among U.S. high school students. Analyzing survey data from 2017, 2019, and 2021, researchers explored whether teens who report concussions were more likely to experience insufficient sleep. Key findings: ➡️ Students reporting 4 or more concussions had a lower odds of insufficient sleep compared to those reporting no concussions. ➡️ Students with one reported concussion had higher odds of insufficient sleep. The relationship between reported concussions and insufficient sleep may reflect that students with multiple concussions are more likely to receive ongoing medical care, including education about sleep hygiene and concussion recovery, which may support improved sleep outcomes. 🔍 Learn more about the study: bit.ly/4rDi7fV

We want people to be safe everywhere 💛 🏚️ Safe at home 🚴‍♀️ Safe in your community 🚜 Safe at work 🩷 Emotional safety/ mental health Visit our website for safety resources for you, your family, and your community: bit.ly/4anAY8A

Research @uiowa reveals how driving stress influences safer driving habits among adults 65+. Researchers surveyed 223 older drivers to explore older drivers’ driving behaviors and perceptions. Some findings: 🚗 Older adults who felt less confident in their driving or had a recent crash experienced more driving stress—and that stress is what pushed them to change their driving habits. 👵 Older women reported more driving stress and were more likely to limit when and where they drive, which may lead some to stop driving earlier than necessary. 🚦 Driving stress may actually serve as an important warning sign that an older driver is becoming aware of changes in their driving ability. 🔍 Learn more about the study and its implications for supporting safe mobility in older adulthood: bit.ly/4qsk3Gt

📢 New brief: The 2024 @IowaHHS Iowa Trauma Registry Report, published in 2025, showcases the strength and commitment of Iowa’s #trauma system to protect the health and well-being of Iowans, while identifying trends and challenges. Some key findings: ➡️ Older Iowans continue to experience a growing share of serious injuries, driven largely by the state’s aging population and the increasing number of falls‑related incidents. Adults 65 and older account for more than half of all trauma events. ➡️ Falls remain both the leading cause of injury and the primary reason for reinjury within a year. Falls also remain the top cause of trauma‑related deaths in Iowa. ➡️In Iowa, there is an urgent need for targeted #falls prevention, especially among older adults. 🔗Read more findings in our new brief: bit.ly/3M7eMWW

A new University of Iowa study examined how the stress of the COVID‑19 pandemic affected Reserve and National Guard women Veterans—especially those with a history of traumatic #brain injury (#TBI). The study found: • Women Veterans with prior TBI reported more severe #depression symptoms. • COVID‑19–related stress explained over a third of this association. • Stress tied to daily necessities (like food and housing) was especially impactful. 👉 Read the full article here: bit.ly/4pZZ4uk

🎉Welcome to our first blog post of 2026! We look back at some of our Center’s highlights in 2025. ➡️Go here to read our blog post bit.ly/4sROEzP

A new University of Iowa study explored how #firearm safety programs can better engage #rural, farming families. Focus groups were conducted with rural Iowa parents with at least one firearm at home. Key findings include: 👮 Trusted messengers: Parents identified law enforcement, Department of Natural Resources personnel, and community members affected by firearm violence as the most credible voices. 🧑‍🏫 Less trusted messengers: Teachers, healthcare professionals, and celebrities were viewed as less trusted for firearm safety messaging. 🌱 Use existing programs: Integrating firearm safety into schools, 4-H, FFA, and local safety courses was recommended. 🔒 Mixed views on safety devices: Opinions varied on distributing firearm locks and safes. 👉 Read the full article here: bit.ly/4sNJeFN