Transcript Slide 1
WHAM
Injury Prevention
Overview
Injury Prevention Overview
Extent of the injury problem
Science of injury prevention
Ways to help your patients
and communities
Resources
Injuries are not “accidents”
Unintentional injuries
are the leading cause
of death and
hospitalization from
ages 1 through 44
Most are preventable
Known, effective
interventions work!
10 Leading Causes of Death by Age -Blue boxes indicate injury deaths.
Quick Quiz…
What are the leading
cause of most fatal
unintentional injuries?
Fatalities
Motor Vehicle
Falls (adults)
Poisoning
(adults)
Drowning
(toddlers/teens/older
adults)
Airway Obstruction
(under 1 y.o.)
Pedestrian
Source: Washington State Dept. of Health
(older adults, ages 1-4 and
20-24)
Pedal Cyclist
Fires and Burns
Poisoning
Firearms
Fatalities: tip of the iceberg
1
Death
45
Hospitalizations
1,300
Emergency Room Visits
2,600
Treated at Doctor Office or Home
Quick Quiz…
What causes the most
nonfatal unintentional
injuries?
Non-fatal Hospitalizations
Falls (older adults)
Motor Vehicle
Poisoning (adults
and toddlers)
Natural environment
(bites, stings, etc.)
“Struck By/Against”
Fires/Burns
Cut/Pierce
Source: Washington State Dept. of Health
US Incidence and Costs of Injury
(Finkelstein, et al 2006)
Productivity
Losses
Total Costs
Incidence
Medical Costs
Fatal
149,075
$1 Billion
$142 Billion
$143 Billion
Hospitalized
1,869,857
$34 Billion
$49 Billion
$92 Billion
48,108,166
$45 Billion
$125 Billion
$171 Billion
50,127,098
$80 Billion
$326 Billion
$406 Billion
Non-hospitalized
Total
Cost Estimates Based on 2000 data
Injury Prevention as a Science
Known risk factors
Scientific research
(conducted by leaders such as Johns
Hopkins, Centers For Disease Control,
Harborview Injury Prevention & Research
Center, etc.)
Best practice interventions
based on research and data
Scientific “public health” model:
Define problem: look at data!
Identify risk and protective factors
Develop and test prevention
strategies
Assure widespread adoption of
injury prevention principals and
strategies
Quick Quiz
Who is most likely to
be injured?
Most at-risk
Younger children
Older adults
Males
Minority children
Poor children
Traditional “E’s” of Injury
Prevention
Education: community and individual
Engineering: safer products, roadways,
construction practices, etc.
Enforcement: laws, policies,ordinances,
building codes, etc.
Another “E”: Evaluation
Activity should be based on data that shows
a) issue is important
b) target population is appropriate
c) intervention strategy is promising
Trusted Resources
Centers For Disease and Prevention
Safe Kids Worldwide
American Academy of Pediatrics
Consumer Product Safety Commission
National Highway Transportation
Administration (NHTSA)
Local coalitions
Safe Kids Pierce County
Pierce County Child Passenger
Safety Team
Pierce County Falls Prevention
Coalition
Pierce County Leadership for Alcohol
and Drug Free Youth
New resource developed for
emergency personnel:
Developed by local
prevention specialists
Modules added to OTEP
Enables you to address
prevention during the
“teachable moment”
following an injury or nearinjury
Provides you with
resources to leave with the
patient/patient’s family
Why talk about injury prevention
after an injury (or near miss)?
On-scene EMS crews are in an ideal position to
deliver prevention info because…
Research with brief interventions in hospitals show a
patient is psychologically open to information, creating a
“teachable moment”
EMS may be the "tipping point" for the patient or
caregiver to incorporate safety practices
If a person experiences one injury, he/she is at higher
risk for a future injury
Other healthcare providers often lack appropriate
knowledge or resources
Patients treat on-scene and released may not have
another opportunity for safety counseling
WHAM
What risks are observed on scene?
How can we keep from coming back?
Action to take to prevent future
injuries
Materials to leave behind
WHAM Folders
Folders provided for emergency rigs
Folders divided by injury areas:
Helmets
Firearms
Poisoning
Falls among Older Adults
Child Passenger / Motor Vehicle Safety
Airway Obstructions
Burns
Open Water Drowning
Contains prevention info and local resources
WHAM developed by:
Central Pierce Fire & Rescue
City of DuPont Fire Department
Gig Harbor Fire & Medic One
Safe Kids Pierce County
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Dept.
With funding from:
West Region EMS &
Trauma Care Council