Injury Related News and Research

October 2007

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is pleased to announce that The Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons and The Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy are recipients of the 2007 Injury Prevention and Control Health Impact Award.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control is honoring the Committee on Trauma (COT), AmericanCollege of Surgeons for requiring trauma centers to screen patients for alcohol problems. The requirement for alcohol screening and interventions in trauma centers makes the COT the first health care organization to mandate provision of an evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention mental health benefit in hospitalized patients.

CDC is honoring The Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy for the conduct of high quality research that is applied to programs and policies to reduce the incidence, severity, and consequences of injuries and for their integration of research and practice with the education of injury prevention and control leaders of tomorrow.

2007 marks the inaugural year of the annual Injury Prevention and Control Health Impact Awards. CDC established these awards to: recognize efforts in achieving greater health impact in the field of injury prevention; promote best practices and success stories in the field of injury prevention and control; and, demonstrate CDC’s commitment to achieving health impact. Congratulations to The Committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons and The Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy.

August 2007

Katherine Harper the ICRC's Associate Director for Education, Training, and Service recently was a guest of Birmingham's Fox affiliate to discuss the dangers of lead paint and the recent toy recalls.

June 2007

Injuries from Animal Bites Can Be Prevented

Animal bites, especially dog bites, are a significant source of injury each year, especially among children. Dog bites are the most common but cats, ferrets and wild animals also bite people. Each year, about 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs and 800,000 of those bitten seek medical attention. Half of these are seen in the emergency room and about a dozen die. The primary victims are children, especially boys. Fortunately, steps can be taken to prevent most bites...More

Parents encouraged to "Ask on ASK Day."

ASK Day is a national day of focus on the lifesaving message of the ASK (Asking Saves Kids) campaign. This is a day to bring special awareness to the injuries and death caused by unintentional gun violence towards children, which occurs far too frequently in this country. ASK Day will take place on Thursday, June 21, the first day of summer, a time of year when children play more often in other homes...More

JUNE IS HOME SAFETY MONTH

For most of us, home is a safe haven. However, every day in homes across America, 55 people die and another 58,000 people are injured and need medical care. Many simple things can be done to help save lives and prevent injuries. Installing the right safety products and planning ahead can prepare you to deal with whatever may arise, and could even save your life...More

May 2007

UAB Injury Center Says Practice Safe Boating

Media Contact:
Bob Shepard
(205) 934-8934
E-mail: bshep@uab.edu

Posted on May 23, 2007 at 1:45 p.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – People have so many reasons for not wearing a life jacket while boating. “I know how to swim.” “It doesn’t look cool.” “Nothing will happen to me.” The statistics say otherwise. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 87 percent of the nearly 700 people who died in boating incidents in 2005 were not wearing life jackets.“Alabama ranks in the top 10 nationally for recreational boating fatalities,” said Katherine Terry, M.P.H., program manager for the UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Injury Control Research Center (ICRC). “Putting on a life jacket is the first and best precaution boaters should take to stay safe while on the water.” National Safe Boating Week, using the theme “Wear It!”, is May 19-25. It is designed to promote life jacket use to the approximately 78 million people who take to North America’s waterways each year.It's the law in Alabama that everyone on board a vessel has a life jacket available. All children less than 8 years of age must wear a life jacket while on a boat, as well as anyone being towed by a boat or riding a Jet Ski or Sea Doo. “This year during National Safe Boating Week and throughout the boating season, remember to be a safe, responsible boater, always wear your life jacket, and be alert and aware while on the water,” Terry said. “By practicing these simple steps, you can save your life as well as the lives of the people boating with you. Boat Smart. Boat Safe. WEAR IT!”

Visit www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com for campaign materials and additional safe boating resources.

UAB Injury Control Research Center Reminds Alabamians to "Click it or Ticket"

Media Contact:
Kristen Ruggeri
(205) 934-8935
E-mail: kmr0901@uab.edu

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UAB Injury Control Research Center (ICRC) has some advice for anyone who plans on driving this weekend: Wear a seatbelt. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and law enforcement agencies plan to crack down and target nighttime drivers as part of its nation-wide “Click-it-or-Ticket” campaign. Recent NHTSA research demonstrates that seat belt use declines substantially at night, and the odds of being killed in a motor vehicle accident are three times greater than during the day.Fifteen thousand vehicle occupants died in traffic accidents at night in 2005. More than half of them were not wearing a seatbelt. The ICRC supports this national initiative to step-up law-enforcement activities, especially during Memorial Day weekend when more drivers are likely to be on the road.“Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes,” said Katherine Terry, M.P.H., program manager of the ICRC. “When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to those in the front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent, and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans.”

The hundreds of injuries related to motor vehicle crashes cost this state alone nearly $50 million each year, according to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Still, recent surveys show that only 79 percent of Alabamians wear seat belts regularly. By increasing the seat belt usage rates to 85 percent, at least another 44 lives could be saved this year in motor vehicle crashes and another 456 injuries could be prevented.