Published by: NPHW TEAM on 4/5/2011 9:14:51 AM
You turn on the news and hear of another car crash…fire…worksite disaster…sports injury…drug overdose. There are many injuries that stem from a lack of safety and prevention. These issues have become all too common on your nightly news and it is very unlikely a day will go by without an injury- or safety-related headline.
It then comes as no surprise that injuries are the leading cause of death for people age 1 – 44, causing over 170,000 deaths each year. The World Health Organization has estimated that traffic-related injuries by themselves will be the 3rd leading cause of global burden disease and injury by 2020, making this a world-wide problem.
To get these numbers down homes, schools and communities can advocate and push for more awareness and action in addressing these dangerous issues. Such issues that are involved include:
-Falls
-Motor Vehicle Safety
-Poisoning
-Drug Abuse
-Suicide
-Youth Violence
-Fires
-Childhood Injury
In National Public Health Week’s (NPHW) mission of making a healthier nation in one generation, it is crucial to tackle this major public health issue. It is the very reason why this year’s NPHW is dedicated to advocating it’s theme of ‘Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free’. APHA offers tips and guidance to help you promote living injury-free at home, at work, at play, on the move, and in your community.
Your voice counts! Reach out to your local advocates and groups on issues most affecting your families and communities. Help to push local, state and federal policies that promote safer communities by educating your respective Congress members.
You can do this by Getting Involved and Taking Action! Through the NPHW website, you can write directly to Congress to join the fight to protect public health and the number of safety and injury prevention efforts that are happening.
Join APHA in advocating for safer communities and living injury-free by participating or leading in NPHW activities during the first full week of April. Take the extra step along with the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems and become a partner to participate on a local, state/county or national level!