The 2025 Texas Injury Prevention Conference took place November 4-5, 2025. We want to thank everyone who attended and participated in the conference and made it a success! 

Post-conference resources will be available on the conference website until February 27, 2026. Sign up for the Injury Prevention Unit newsletter to stay updated on injury prevention-related topics all year long.

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month.

Updated 12/01/2025

December is Safe Toys and Gifts Month. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, “In 2021, nearly 122,000 children under the age of 15 years were seen in emergency rooms for toy-related injuries.” This amounts to 334 children per day, and nearly “60% of those children were younger than 5 years of age.”

Prevent Blindness reminds parents and caregivers to protect children from injury when playing with toys and recommends:

• Only buy age-appropriate toys.
• Show children how to use their toys safely.
• Keep an eye on children when they play.

Safe Kids Worldwide also recommends checking for small parts or other potential choking hazards when choosing toys, using a bin or container to store toys when playtime is over, and using a helmet for riding toys.

Parents and caregivers can also find information about toy recalls and product safety warnings by visiting the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Following these safety practices can help parents, caregivers, and children enjoy a safer holiday season. 

New Texas Opioid Risk Index Map Available

Updated 12/01/2025

Texas Overdose Data to Action’s (TODA) external evaluator, the Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute (PPRI), published the Opioid Risk Index Map. This map shows risks and resources for opioid use in Texas counties.

The map uses color to rate each county based on criteria and data derived from public sources. The three criteria are:

• Scope of Opioid-Related Complications: Includes opioid-related emergency room visits, death, poisoning center calls, and opioid dispensing rates.
• Community-Level Drivers of Health: Derived from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for socioeconomic indicators such as poverty, unemployment, housing burden, high school diplomas, and health insurance.
• Available Treatments: Considers what resources are in the county to combat opioid misuse and drug poisoning.

This map can help identify areas of risk and show where there may be potential opportunities to expand prevention and treatment efforts. Decision makers can use this map to align resources and prevention strategies with community needs.

Additional Drug Poisoning Prevention Resources:

• TODA General Resources
• TODA Naloxone Locator Map
• Texas Targeted Opioid Response
• Be Well, Texas
• Naloxone Texas

Winter Weather Safety Tips

Updated 12/01/2025

Texas weather can change in an instant. So, during the winter months, it’s important to prepare for winter storms.

According to Ready.gov, winter storms can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and high winds. These storms can last from just a few hours to multiple days. They may cut off heat, power, and communication services. Additionally, older adults, children, sick individuals, and pets are at greater risk.

Prepare Your Home. Apply insulation, caulking, and weather stripping.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Install a carbon monoxide alarm that functions properly and has a backup battery function.

Use Portable Generators Safely. Use portable generators outside and far away from buildings (EPA).

Learn the signs of frostbite and hypothermia.

Make sure body parts most affected by cold are covered in warm, dry clothing to avoid frostbite and hyperthermia.

Know the signs of frostbite:

• Redness or pain in any skin area.
• A white or grayish-yellow skin area.
• Skin that feels unusually firm or waxy.
• Numbness.

Know the signs of hypothermia in adults and infants:

Adults

• Shivering
• Exhaustion
• Confusion
• Fumbling hands
• Memory loss
• Slurred speech
• Drowsiness

Infants

• Bright red, cold skin
• Very low energy

If a person is experiencing frostbite or hyperthermia, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Get them into a warm room or shelter. Remove any wet clothing. Warm them under layers of blankets and clothing. Place areas affected by frostbite in warm-to-touch water (CDC).

Holiday Travel Safety

Updated 11/03/2025

Traveling by car during the holidays has the highest fatality rate of any major form of transportation (National Safety Council).

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), based on reportable crashes in Texas in 2024, lack of restraint usage, driving under the influence of alcohol, and distracted driving were often factors in fatal crashes throughout the year. Fatal crashes during holiday periods accounted for 6% of motor vehicle traffic fatalities.   

There are steps you can take to make holiday travel safer, including:

• Buckling up on every ride;
• Avoiding distracted driving; and
• Designating a sober driver.

Additionally, you can:

• Prepare your car for winter;
• Keep an emergency kit with you; and
• Avoid drowsy driving.

During the holidays and all year long, we can share the message of roadway safety to help prevent injury and death on Texas roadways.