• Brian Martinez, Heli Patel, Brian Chin, Francis Cruz, Muhammad Usman Awan, Hazem Nasef, and Adel Elkbuli.
• NOVA Southeastern University, Kiran Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
• Injury. 2024 Feb 1; 55 (2): 111277111277.

IntroductionNational parks in the United States experience a significant number of annual visits, and with increasing popularity, injuries are expected to rise. This study aims to assess fatal injuries in the top ten most visited U.S. national parks from 2013 to 2022 to improve current policies and develop effective prevention strategies.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using public National Park Service data. Data including visitor demographics, injury cause, and location, were collected. Fatal injuries were categorized by season, age group, and gender.ResultsSummer had the highest total number of fatal injuries. The winter season had the highest rate of fatal injuries per 10 million visitors. The number of fatal injuries per 10 million visitors decreased from 2013 to 2022 for most parks. The South Region reported the highest total number of fatalities. The West Region demonstrated higher rates when adjusted for visitor volume. Fatal injuries were most prevalent in the 35-44 age group, followed by the 15-24 and 25-34 age groups, with the least incidents in the 0-14 age group, and were more common among males (71.5 % of total injuries).ConclusionThis study found the highest number of total injuries occurring in summer; however, winter presented a higher risk per visitor. Slips and falls were the most common cause of injuries, requiring targeted safety measures. Males in the 35-44 age group reported the highest fatality rates. These findings highlight the necessity for improved monitoring and reporting to better understand injury causes and formulate specific, evidence-based policies for prevention.Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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