MDHB News

Public Health: Injury Prevention

Public Health’s task in injury prevention is to work collaboratively with other government agencies and community organisations to help make our MidCentral DHB Region a safer place.

St John's vehicle on the road

MidCentral Health’s Public Health Service work with other organisations and government agencies to reduce injuries in the region. Strategies include working with communities on changing environments as well as changing people's knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

Initiatives have included

Bringing Dr Rose Pere (internationally recognised Māori educationalist) to talk in this region,
The supporting families Awhi Whānau Day,
SafeKids injury prevention projects such as poisoning prevention,
School surveys to identify risks that put pupils off walking,
Working with councils to invite international experts on increasing safe walking and cycling

When improving safety it is best to look for one-off changes in the environment as this reduces the need for constant vigilance. Smoke alarms, pool fencing and using standards certified products are good examples of actions that save lives.

Further information on Injury Prevention

Unintentional injury is a major cause of hospitalisation, and leads to 20 times more hospitalisations than assaults. Around 50% of all unintentional injury occurs in the home. To make your home safer or to see government strategies for reducing injury check out the ACC website: Injury prevention To improve family safety check out Safekids: Safekids
To see government strategy and action on Family Violence check out: Ministry of Social Development - Work Areas - Families, Whanau - Te Rito New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy
For a Māori perspective, the presentation by Dr Rose Pere to the Injury Prevention Conference in 2006 is on: IPNANZ Conference 2-4 November 2005 : Living and playing safely in Aotearoa New Zealand : Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa New Zealand
For an overview of injury-prevention websites try Injury Prevention Network Aotearoa/New Zealand: Links to Injury Prevention websites : Injury Prevention Network of Aotearoa New Zealand
For injury statistics try: IPRU: Statistics Check out their research while you’re there.

Disclaimer:

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