November 18 is National Injury Prevention Day, and our team is reaching out to educate the public about how to avoid common causes of injuries.
Regional One Health also offers free community classes on a variety of safety topics.
Learn more and do your part to stop preventable injuries due to violence and accidents, which are the top cause of death among people age 44 and younger.
Preventable injuries due to violence and accidents are the leading cause of death among people 44 years old and younger, accounting for more fatalities than all other diseases combined.
Leading up to National Injury Prevention Day November 18, the experts at Regional One Health’s Elvis Presley Trauma Center and Firefighters Burn Center are joining hospitals and trauma centers across the country to raise awareness about the burden of injury and violence and to encourage others to be part of making a positive change.
“Injury Prevention Day is dedicated to educating and empowering communities with knowledge about safety practices, products and policies,” said Geretta Hollins, Community Outreach/Injury Prevention Program Coordinator for Burn and Trauma Service at Regional One Health.
“Our children, our young people and their families deserve to live injury free. The team at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center is working to address the needless injuries and violence taking place in the Mid-South by offering free injury prevention and safety classes to the community.”
The trauma center team is also sharing advice for how all of us can help address three big causes of serious injuries – motor vehicle accidents, accidental falls and unintentional shootings.
Prevent injuries from automobile accidents by always wearing a seatbelt, driving the speed limit, and avoiding distractions.
Follow these guidelines to reduce injuries from motor vehicle accidents:
- Always wear your seatbelt and tell others in the vehicle to wear their seatbelts.
- Never use your cellphone while driving and avoid other common distractions like eating or drinking, talking to other passengers, adjusting the audio or climate control, having pets in the vehicle, reaching for objects and rubbernecking.
- Never drive when you are impaired by alcohol or drugs, including medications; or when you are overly tired or sleepy.
- Always obey the speed limit. Be especially vigilant in school and construction zones.
Take these steps to prevent accidental falls:
- Ask your doctor to review your medications. Take special care if they have side effects like imbalance or dizziness.
- Get an annual vision and hearing exam. Even minor changes in vision and hearing are linked to an increased fall risk.
- Exercise to strengthen your leg and core muscles to promote good balance. Walking, strength-
Falls can be prevented by removing tripping hazards like electrical cords, toys, and rugs that slip or shift.
training and yoga are all great ways to improve balance and strength.
- Make sure your home has good lighting and is free of tripping hazards such as rugs that slip or skid, spills, and electrical cords.
You can also do your part to prevent unintentional shootings:
- Keep firearms out of sight and reach of children.
- Model responsible behavior around firearms.
- Make sure guns are unloaded and locked, stored separately from ammunition. Ask about unsecured guns in other homes and vehicles.
Hollins said taking a safety class from Regional One Health is a great way to learn more about how you can prevent accidental injuries. Classes include:
- “Be SMART,” which raises awareness about secure gun storage and how it can save children’s lives.
- “Fall Prevention,” which educates high-risk individuals to prevent falls in the home and workplace.
- “Distracted Driving and Violence Prevention (DDVP),” taught by state troopers, which informs teens about the dangers of impaired driving.
- “Stop the Bleed,” which trains bystanders to render first aid to victims of severe bleeding.
Onsite training is available for civic groups, churches, schools, businesses, etc.