By Anna Guido
Enquirer contributor

HAMILTON - More people were injured in Butler County in 2000 than the national average, and most were hurt at home.

The 2001 Butler County Injury Surveillance Report, which analyzes information taken from hospital emergency rooms, found significant increases in injuries in most age categories that year.

The report was released Thursday.

2001 INJURY REPORT

• Home is the No. 1 location for injuries. • Motor vehicle crashes, unarmed assaults and poisonings are leading causes. • Total injury rate is higher than national average

One in six Butler Countians sustained injuries in 2000, compared to the national average of one in 10. Included are all injuries reported to hospitals.

"Once we know what is happening, then we can identify the factors and design programs to prevent accidents in the future," said Melanie Hatch, a Miami University assistant professor who analyzed the data and prepared the report for the Butler County Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition.

Hatch presented the report at the coalition's Thursday breakfast meeting at the Hamilton Elks Lodge on Hamilton-Middletown Road.

"Overall, we do see what appears to be an increased trend in the number of injuries reported," Hatch said.

Being struck by an object or person was the leading cause of injuries.

Motor vehicle accidents, unarmed assaults and poisonings were among other top causes.

However, the county's number of deaths (3.73 per 10,000 people) in all categories was lower than the state average (4.75 per 10,000), Hatch said.

Founded in 1997, the coalition gets state and federal funding.

It's one of 39 coalitions in the state, and its goal is to decrease the number of accidental injuries to Butler County children and their families.

The injury surveillance report was created to help meet that goal, according to Annette Moore, project coordinator for the coalition and a registered nurse.

More than 100people attended Thursday's meeting, including representatives from local and state law enforcement agencies, fire and transportation departments, county engineers, schools and universities.

Many of the groups involved with the coalition have similar goals.

West Chester Township Police Sgt. Barry Walker - a member of the coalition's executive board and also a member of the Butler County DUI Task Force - said DUIs are occurring more frequently on more days of the week and all times of the day.

"We need to minimize the number of DUIs out there by making the community aware that it's not just a Friday night or Saturday night or New Year's Eve problem," he said.

For more information, call the Butler County Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition office at 887-5534.

E-mail annag1129@cs.com