INTRODUCTION: Accidents and violence are important causes of hospital admissions and mortality in the municipality of Alta Floresta, especially among young people. However, the magnitude of the problem, in terms of outpatient services is not known OBJECTIVE: To characterize victims of accidents and violence at the emergency service of the city of Alta Floresta. METHODS: Descriptive study on the occurrence of emergencies resulting from accidents or violence, during three months of 2006. All cases were recorded on a specific form. RESULTS: Of the 7,394 outpatients in the period, 583 (7.9%) were victims of accidents and violence; most of them were male, between 20 and 39 years of age, white, and with less than eight years of formal education. Accidents were predominant: 239 (41.0%) traffic accidents, most of them by motorcycle (64.9%); 153 falls (26.2%) and 167 (28.7%) others. Regarding violence, 16 (2.7%) were assaults and 8 (1.4%) suicide attempts. Possible alcohol use was identified in 12% of accidents and violence victims, but among the assault victims this proportion was more relevant (91.7%). An important relation between other accidents and the "work" category was observed CONCLUSION: Adequate knowledge about the characteristics of accidents and violence victims is essential to identify effective measures to reduce such injuries.
Accidents; Violence; Morbidity; Emergency
