CONTROLING INJURY-SAVING LIVES
This year, nearly 22 million children and adolescents from infant through age 19 will be injured. More than 20 million will require emergency department visits and another 780,000 will need hospitalization-19,000 will die. The national injury-related costs of medical care, decreased future earnings, and quality of life was $413 billion in 1991.
The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) program seeks to reduce injury and the accompanying costs to society by preventing injury and improving prehospital care, acute care, and rehabilitations. Injury control in prehospital and acute care settings is a major interest of the EMSC program, with federal funding through EMSC grants providing a variety of equipment and training programs, research projects, and treatment protocols that help control injury and save lives.
On The Front Lines:
What You Can Do As Professionals
As EMS personnel, nurses, and emergency physicians-front line responders to most injuries-you are key participants in injury prevention campaigns. Because of your unique training and experience, you can serve as excellent advocates, program planners, and educators to help prevent injuries.
Be An Injury Prevention Advocate
Be a voice for children, adolescents, and families in your community. Provide
expert testimony on prevention legislation. Notify appropriate agencies of needed
interventions such as improved traffic signals, enforcement of speed and safety
belt use laws, and unsafe road conditions.
Learn More About Injury Prevention
Review the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Consensus
Statement on the Role of EMS in Primary Injury Prevention and the Safety Advice
from the EMS (SAFE) Program. These documents can be obtained by calling NHTSA
at 202-366-5440. Preventing Childhood Injuries, A Guide to Developing Innovative
Injury Prevention Initiatives is an excellent resource, which can be obtained
through the EMSC National Resource Center.
Support a Childhood Injury Prevention Community Coalition
Most communities have injury prevention coalitions including SAFE KIDS Coalitions.
These groups need volunteers like you to support their activities. If a coalition
does not exist in your community, we have ideas to help you get one started!
Support a School-Based injury Prevention Program
Many elementary and secondary schools are interested in starting or maintaining
an injury prevention program. Contact your local school administrator or principal
to put your expertise and experience to work. Injury prevention curricula are
available through the EMSC National Resource Center.
Participate in a Speakers Bureau
Your unique experience and knowledge make you an excellent prevention spokesperson.
Offer to share your experiences and knowledge in a public services announcement,
newsletter articles, newspaper editorial, or school assembly.
Be a Role Model…And Lead The Way!
Use your position as a health care provider to lead the way. Buckling up, wearing
a bicycle helmet, managing anger appropriately, and not drinking and driving
will set an example within your community. Do not underestimate your value as
a role model!
For more Information
To find out more about you can use your knowledge and expertise to prevent injury
among children and adolescents-or to learn more about the EMSC program-please
contact:
The EMSC National Resource Center
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: 202-884-4927
Fax: 301-650-8045
Visit our Web site: http://www.emsc.com/nera