ThinkFirst Canada has announced its collaboration with The Canadian Centre for Ethics and Sport, Coaching Association of Canada, and Hockey Canada on a national project aimed at reducing brain injuries in team sports in Canada as part of the federal government’s Active and Safe Initiative. The Public Health Agency of Canada is investing $1.5 million for the prevention of head injuries in team sport for young Canadians. See ThinkFirst’s announcement.

Spaces are limited and registration will be closing February 21st, 2012 & the discounted rate for hotel rooms is only available until January 27th, 2012, so book early!

To view the event website please click the following link:

Event Website

To register please click the following link:

REGISTER NOW

To view the up to date schedule please click the following link:

2011 OIPRC IP Forum Schedule

The forum will take place all day on February 29th, 2012 Novotel North York Hotel in Toronto.

More than 5,600 Canadians are seriously injured every year from winter activities, according to new data released on Jan. 17 by the Canadian Institute for Health Information. While hockey hits have been getting a lot of attention in Canada, skiing and snowboarding injuries are more than twice as common, according to the data.

After comments and discussion, the OIPRC has decided that a further edit will be done prior to the public release of the Ontario Injury Data Report. Accordingly, the webinar scheduled for next week, on Thursday the 26th at 10:00am, has been postponed until the edit is completed.

We anticipate the final public versions of the Ontario Injury Data Report will be available by the end of the month, at which time we will inform you of the new date for the webinar.

If you have any questions, please contact Claude Meurehg at cmeurehg@smartrisk.ca or (416) 596-2705.

In a joint effort by ThinkFirst Canada and Safe Communities Canada, ThinkFirst Concussion Education Online (http://concussioneducation.ca/) is now immediately accessible to Canadians. In an announcement Dec. 15, 2011, Dr. Charles Tator, founder of ThinkFirst Canada and widely known for his strong public profile on brain injury and sport, celebrates this launch as an opportunity to provide comprehensive online concussion education, accessible across Canada.

The slides from the December Webinar entitled “Parental Influence on Youth Behaviours” have now been put online. We’ve also provided a link to the literature review and environmental scan SMARTRISK conducted on the topic

Please use the following link to download the file: Download file

Please use the following link to download the literature review that was conducted on this topic: Parental Influence Literature Review

If you have any questions about this presentation please contact Jayne Morrish at jmorrish@smartrisk.ca

An excellent new online sport concussion resource is available now at www.sportconcussionlibrary.com, developed by concussion expert Dr. Paul Echlin. Directed towards athletes, parents, coaches, educators, researchers and medical professionals, the web resource officially launched on Dec. 8, 2011. The Sport Concussion Library is unique in the world in that it houses the latest resources for anyone interested in concussion, including 2,300+ peer-reviewed journals, video testimonials and news stories, e-module education tools aimed at football and hockey athletes and a range of information links and resources for the public. See the press release below for more information on this resource.

The Southwest Injury Prevention Conference’s annual Not By Accident Conference in London this past October was also the site for the formal launch of the Network’s No More Accidents campaign. In their media release discussing the campaign they noted, “The purpose of this campaign is to change the language often used to describe injury and its causes. Accidents are defined as an act of fate, and happen for no apparent reason. Therefore, referring to injury causing events, like a car crash due to drinking and driving, as an accident, is misleading and a concern to individuals working in the field of injury prevention.”

See the No More Accidents page in the Forum at http://www.oninjuryresources.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=117 for posters and postcards developed for the campaign. Also, see the videos which are posted on a SWIPN channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/SWIPN

Safe Kids Canada and Canadian manufacturer, Seven Star Sports, have teamed up to provide low-cost helmets for all sports, including cycling, skiing, snowboarding and hockey. A portion of all sales will go to supporting Safe Kids. Visit Safe Kids Canada to view the available helmets and fill in a form to place an order. Safe Kids is encouraging people to share the order form with friends and colleagues.

To view the event website please click the following link:

Event Website

To register please click the following link:

REGISTER NOW

To view the up to date schedule please click the following link:

2011 OIPRC IP Forum Schedule

The forum will take place all day on February 29th, 2012 Novotel North York Hotel in Toronto

The Toronto Star ran a two-part series, focusing first on the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s new iDAPT facilities and secondly, an in-depth piece on the important issue of falls among seniors. To read the series, visit http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1087614—rehab-revolution?bn=1 and http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1089529—after-the-fall?bn=1

The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario has announced a review into pedestrian deaths in the province, the second such announcement of interest to injury prevention advocates in recent days. The purpose of the review is to identify common factors that have played a role in pedestrian deaths and where appropriate, make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.

Join us on December 13th, 2011 at 1:00pm for a 60-minute presentation on the influence of parents on adolescent risk behaviours.

This is a 60-minute webinar presentation on what research has found regarding the ways that parents influence their teens and how parents can best become positive influences. The purpose of this webinar is to share information from recent research that SMARTRISK has conducted on this topic and provide some initial thoughts on the key factors to consider when educating parents on how they can help their teens stay safe.

This years’ topic will be The 2nd annual OIPRC Injury Prevention Forum will take place on March 8th and 9th, 2011 at the Novotel-North York Hotel in Toronto.

This years’ topic will be “Preventing Risk and Promoting Resiliency in Adolescence”

Keynote speakers will include:

• Jim Conway , Speaker & Trainer from The Search Institute; importance of promoting resiliency and positive youth development in adolescence
• Chloe Hamza , Research Chair of the Niagara Suicide Prevention Coalition
• Sheila Hansen, Thunder Bay Youth Suicide Prevention Task Force
• Dr. Susan Forbes & Dr. Lori Livingston – Play It Cool program & research group speaking to Sports and Recreational Injuries
• Kerri Richards, Toronto Public Health and Susan Shepherd, Toronto Drug Strategy Secretariat
• Various other researchers and programmers specializing in preventing adolescent injuries and/or promoting resiliency in adolescence

The Office of the Chief Coroner will review cycling deaths across the province, announced Dr. Andrew McCallum, Chief Coroner for Ontario, on Oct. 24, 2011. The review is being undertaken as a result of public concern surrounding the issue of cycling safety, he said. Between 15 and 20 cyclists are killed on average each year in Ontario.

This article is supplied by Lorna Boratto, Public Health Nurse with Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services:

An OPHA workgroup is working towards Increased Driver Awareness and Knowledge of Safely Sharing the Road with Cyclists. This is a 3 part initiative: 1. Advocate for changes to the Driver’s Handbook, to include more information on safely sharing the road with other users, including cyclists. 2. Include more instruction in driver education re: sharing the road with alternate users and include this component in the written and on-road testing. 3. Increase public awareness and education re: safely sharing the road.

The following article is by Heather McConnell, Associate Director, International Affairs and Best Practices Guidelines Program, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.

The Integrated Falls Prevention Project, led by the LHIN Collaborative, aims to provide an Integrated Falls Prevention Framework and Toolkit to the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), Public Health Units and other Health Services Providers that will promote collaboration and integration amongst all key parties as well as collate existing falls prevention leading practices.

The “Not by Accident Conference, 2011” will take place in London, ON from 8:30am to 3:00pm on October 27, at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.

For further details, and to fill out the registration form, please see the attached file:

Not By Accident Conference

The Canadian Institute for Health Information has released new data on summer sports and recreational activities, with good news for advocates of cycling helmet use. CIHI notes that cycling injuries are by far the most common of summer sports and recreational injuries. However, while the number of cycling injuries remains stable, the number of serious cycling head injuries has plunged during the last decade, suggesting the increasing use of helmets is having a real impact. To read the report, visit the CIHI website

In an effort to raise the profile of preventable injuries, Niagara Region Public Health has created two brief videos. These videos showcase how injuries impact communities and the daily lives of individuals. The videos use clear language to highlight the concept that injuries can be prevented. Niagara will use them to engage stakeholders and communities in the conversation of injury prevention. See the long video and the alternate (short) video . For more information, contact Christina Bradley, Public Health Nurse at 905-688-8248 ext 7401 or christina.bradley@niagararegion.ca.

Alcohol was a contributing factor in two-thirds of Ontario’s drowning deaths last summer among those aged 15-64, concludes a new review from Ontario’s chief coroner. Of the 89 people who drowned in Ontario from May through September 2010, 85% were male. As well, the number of child victims under 5 almost tripled from the year before, to 13.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information has released a new report on self-harm, noting that more than 17,500 Canadians – or 45 a day – were admitted to hospital after attempting suicide or deliberately harming themselves. The most common method of self-injury leading to hospitalization was poisoning (85%) followed by cutting or piercing (10%) and strangulation (2%). Young women 15-19 were the most likely to self-injure.

The World Health Assembly adopted its first ever resolution on child injury prevention on May 24, 2011. The resolution, spurred by the WHO/UNICEF World Report on Child Injury Prevention, calls for member countries to support action on preventing child injuries, the leading cause of death for children worldwide over the age of 5 years.

This free webinar was presented on May 17th, 2011 at 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EST, hosted by the OIPRC and Program Training and Consultation Centre.

This webinar presentation focuses on the importance of media advocacy as a strategy to frame important public health issues and support the implementation of healthy public policy.

Click here to view a video of the webinar.

May 11, 2011 marks the official launch of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety. In support, Transport Canada has designated 2011 as Canada’s Year of Road Safety and is asking Canadians to rethink the way they drive in a bid to make Canada’s roads the safest in the world.

The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation has publicly released Guidelines for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Persistent Symptoms. The Guidelines were generated through a consensus process using existing evidence and clinical expertise. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of people who sustain MTBI do not recover well or as expected. The guidelines are therefore aimed at treating and reducing the impact of persistent symptoms following MTBI in adults. On behalf of the project team that oversaw this work, ONF welcomes feedback on the Guidelines to info@onf.org

Download the guidelines at the ONF website

The Health Communication Unit, a resource centre of the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion, now offers a Library of Sample Program Plans, based on the Ontario Public Health Standards and Guidance Documents. You can view or import them into your Online Health Program Planner.

Wider implementation of policies is needed to save lives and reduce the health impact of harmful alcohol drinking, says a new report launched on Feb. 11, 2011 by the World Health Organization. Harmful use of alcohol results in the death of 2.5 million people annually, causes illness and injury to many more, and increasingly affects younger generations and drinkers in developing countries, it says. Find the report at the WHO’s website.

2nd annual OIPRC Injury Prevention Forum. This year’s topic is RISKY DRIVING PREVENTION

To register please click the following link:

REGISTER NOW

To view the event agenda please click the following link:

Event agenda

To view the event website please click the following link:

Event Website

The forum will take place on the evening of March 8th and all day on the 9th at the Novotel-North York Hotel in Toronto. Hotel rates and information are available on through the above “Event Summary” link, under the “Hotel” tab

Keynote speakers will include: • Tom Vanderbilt, author of “Traffic: Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Says About Us)”
• Linda Beyer, expert on the Regional Niagara Road Safety Committee Strategy (including Think and Drive)
• Jeff Griffith, Team Leader of the MTO Road Safety Marketing Office
• Barbara Morrongiello, Psychologist and researcher at Guelph University
• Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) – “Change the Conversation”
• Representative from Arrive Alive DRIVE SOBER
• Panel discussion with key stakeholders for risky driving program planning, including the Niagara Regional Police Service Chief of Police

Spaces are limited and registration will be closing on Feb. 26, 2011!

Canada has recorded the fewest traffic deaths in almost 60 years, Transport Canada said in a Jan. 26 news release. In 2008, 2,419 people died on the roads, down 12% from the year before. About 54% were motor vehicle drivers, 20% were passengers, 12% were pedestrians, 9% were motorcyclists and fewer than 2% were bicyclists.

The article below on a car seat initiative directed towards newcomers was contributed by the committee, Safety Drives Us, which focuses on road safety initiatives for newcomers in Halton, Peel and Hamilton. The committee’s work has been recognized widely, including being featured in a child safety newsletter based out of France and on the Safe Kids Canada website. The committee was also invited to speak at the International Conference on Child Safety in Cars in Munich.

Injury prevention advocates are applauding the passage of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act. Safe Kids Canada pushed hard for an overhaul of the old product safety legislation and sent out a news release congratulating the government for passing the act, “just in time for the holiday gift-giving season.” The legislation will allow for more effective enforcement measures such as mandatory testing and recalls.

See the Safe Kids website for the full release and visit the Health Canada website for its news release.

To view the event website please click the following link:

Event Website

To register please click the following link:

REGISTER NOW

To view the up to date schedule please click the following link:

2011 OIPRC IP Forum Schedule Please note that check-in and breakfast will begin at 8:30am on March 9th, 2011

The forum will take place on the evening of March 8th and all day on the 9th at the Novotel-North York Hotel in Toronto.

A new national education program to reduce impaired driving, Change the Conversation, has been launched by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation; Arrive Alive, Drive Sober; and the Student Life Education Company.

The number of admissions to trauma facilities for severe injuries from falls among seniors increased by 20% over the five-year period from 2004, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. More than half of these falls (57%) happened at home, with falls from stairs or slipping, tripping or stumbling the most common causes of major injury among seniors, according to the new Ontario Trauma Registry 2009 Report: Major Injury in Ontario.

Join us on December 1st, 2010 at 1:00pm for a 90 minute presentation on bicycle safety.

This is a 90-minute webinar presentation on how to increase awareness among public health practitioners about the role of environmental supports and policy to promote bicycle safety. The purpose of this webinar is to share information on interventions and potential local actions that can be used to promote bicycle safety. Current research and evidence-based initiatives will be highlighted and discussed.

In a unanimous decision taken by the Board of Directors, Dr. Philip Groff has been appointed SMARTRISK President and CEO, following the recent departure of former CEO Robert Baker to a new position in the charitable sector. Dr. Groff is widely respected and well known in Canada’s injury community, through his role as SMARTRISK’s Director of Research and Evaluation.

Join us on November 15, 2010 at 2:30pm for a 90 minute presentation on the A Million Messages program.

You can now access updated 2005 injury data online, notes the latest Injury e-bulletin from the Public Health Agency of Canada. Leading causes of deaths and hospitalizations, leading causes of injury deaths and hospitalizations and data specific to children, are all available in easy to read tables.

New research out of the University of Ottawa suggests that bicycle helmet use is much more widespread in provinces that enact the most comprehensive helmet legislation. Youth in Ontario, for example, were much less likely to obey the provincial law mandating helmets for those younger than 18 years of age than youth in Nova Scotia, where helmet legislation applies to everyone.

A major new report on falls among seniors in Canada has been released and is available online. Falls & Related Injuries among Older Canadians: Fall-related Hospitalizations & Prevention Initiatives analyzes Canadian hospitalization data for fall-related injuries among people 65 years and older. The report by Vicky Scott, Lori Wagar and Sarah Elliott, prepared for the Division of Aging and Seniors, Public Health Agency of Canada, also includes results of a scan of fall prevention programs operating in Canada.

Helmets should be mandatory for anyone using all-terrain vehicles, both on and off roads and in all of Canada, say ThinkFirst Canada researchers in a recently published article. The group studied 10 years of ATV deaths in Ontario, noting that of the 74 people who died, just a single death occurred in 1996 and 1997, compared to 16 per year in 2004 and 2005.

Four million Canadians over age 12 were injured badly enough last year to limit their usual activities, says a new report released by Statistics Canada. Just over a third occurred during sports or physical exercise. In addition, close to half of those who reported bicycling say they never wear a helmet. Just 34% of Ontarian cyclists say they always wear a helmet - lower than the 37% national rate.

For more information on results of the Canadian Community Health Survey, see http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/100615/dq100615b-eng.htm

In an effort to create a “game changer” aimed at reducing the devastating toll of injury, Canada’s four leading national injury groups on June 15, 2010, released the report, One Voice, Safer Canada, which points the way for groundbreaking steps to advance the cause of injury prevention. This collaborative study is a result of work over the last six months, made possible by funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

See the news release below and the full report.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information has released a report, Injury Hospitalizations and Socio-Economic Status, that finds that people living in the poorest neighbourhoods in Canada are 30% more likely to be hospitalized with an injury than people in the richest areas. It concluded that if every socio-economic group had the same injury hospitalization rate as the most affluent group, there would have been 21,000 fewer hospitalizations in 2008-2009, which would have led to savings of $167 million in hospital costs.

The Forum section on this website has a new email notification feature. Once you are a registered Forum user, you may sign up for topics you are interested in (e.g., falls, motor vehicle injuries) and you will be notified when something new is posted to that topic. Each time someone posts a new response in that topic, you will receive a notification in your email that will include a link you can click to go to that new posting.

The presentations from this years IP Forum are now available online.

Safe Kids Canada has kicked off its annual Safe Kids Week, May 31-June 5, by unveiling new data on helmet safety and wheeled activities such as bicycling, inline skating, skateboarding and scootering. While falls can result in various injuries, head injuries are the leading cause of serious injury and death to kids on wheels, particularly in those children not wearing helmets.

It’s important to remember the average child’s skull is just one centimetre thick, so it’s no wonder helmets play such a vital role. More than 1,000 children under age 15 were hurt while riding their bikes in 2007 alone, according to Transport Canada. For more information, see http://www.safekidscanada.ca

A new Ontario private member’s bill would make it law for Ontario drivers to leave a buffer zone of three feet when passing cyclists while travelling 50 km/h or less, four feet when driving at speeds up to 80 and five feet when travelling faster. The bill was introduced by NDP MPP Cheri DiNovo on May 18, 2010, who noted that similar laws exist in a number of European countries and U.S. states. It would be the first of its kind in Canada.

This year’s National Lifejacket Day on May 20 comes just days after a provincial court decision upheld Calgary’s bylaw that requires boaters to wear (not just carry) a lifejacket while boating or face a $500 fine. According to media reports, the bylaw has been in place since 1979 but the city has been working to more strictly enforce it in recent years.

A new report prepared by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, The Alcohol Crash Problem in Canada: 2007, has just been released by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators. You can download the report for free at the TIRF website. The report describes the magnitude, characteristics and trends of the alcohol-crash problem in Canada during 2007. See the highlights below.

On average, each month 25 people are hospitalized for injuries due to exposure to smoke, fire and flames.

Learn more about injuries due to exposure to smoke, fire and flame in March’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format).

Please note, the March 2010 Compass will be the final issue until further notice, as we work to produce a comprehensive injury data report covering all public health units in Ontario.

March 15 marks the start of international Brain Awareness Week, a partnership of more than 1,700 organizations in 57 countries. In Canada, ThinkFirst Canada is teaching children to use their brains to protect their bodies by presenting the ThinkFirst Brain Day program in schools this spring. See the rest of the release from ThinkFirst, below.

As promised the two extra presentations that were not on the USB are now available online.

For the first time, the government of Canada’s Speech from the Throne has stated that it will “work in partnership with non-governmental organizations to launch a national strategy on childhood injury prevention.” See the release from members of the Injury Alliance, below, congratulating the government on its commitment.

Injury Alliance release

The evaluation for for the 1st annual OIPRC IP Forum is now available online.

On average, each month close to 150 people are seen in an emergency department for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Learn more about carbon monoxide poisoning in February’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

A newly released survey of teen driver attitudes in the United States suggests that teenaged girls are becoming more aggressive and distracted drivers while teenaged boys are becoming safer. Teens also said they consider having their parents in the car with them more distracting than their friends – and they report wearing their seatbelts more regularly than their parents do. For more on the study, see http://www.allstate.com/foundation/teen-driving/Shifting-Teen-Attitudes.aspx

The Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre regularly receives requests for information about ordering this toolkit, developed by SMARTRISK. The goal of the toolkit is to reduce the incidence of falls among older adults. To learn more about the toolkit and how to order it, visit Smart Moves Toolkit

On average, each month approximately 950 individuals visit an emergency department for an injury from skiing and snowboarding. Young males have the highest rate of injury.

Learn more about skiing and snowboarding injuries in January’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

Locations in regions across Ontario have been finalized for the Functional Fitness for Falls Prevention Leadership Training course. In addition, an FFFP webinar is being offered on Jan. 29, 2010.

The Ministry of Transportation has provided information in the attachment below on a number of resources available, including for schools, the public and professionals.

MTO

With a dozen pedestrians killed on Toronto streets less than a month into 2010, pedestrians are invited to pledge their commitment to “cross the street as if their life depended on it.” The challenge is part of the iNavigait program, coordinated by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and the Toronto Area Safety Coalition.

We are pleased to announce that as of April 1, 2010, the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion will be taking over responsibility for the contract management of the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre, as funded by the Ministry of Health Promotion.

The British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit has a new teleconference series ready for 2010. All sessions take place on the third Thursday of the month at 10am Pacific time. (1 p.m. EST) Topic descriptions and speaker biographies are found in the attached brochure. You may register for individual sessions or the whole bunch at once.  Below is your menu of injury prevention topics:

The 2010 Seatbelt Campaign will run from April 14-24, 2010, with the themes Buckle Up Ontario and Booster Seats. Below you will find a Campaign Guide with resources, contacts and registration forms. Free campaign materials are available after registering your campaign activity by submitting the Registration Form to your Regional Marketing Planner. One-time funding support of $200 is also available with registration.

On average, each month close to 100 people are hospitalized for a fall from a ladder. Adult males had the highest rate of injury.

Learn more about falls from ladders in December’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

“Seniors Fall Prevention”

Registration is now closed. If you missed the deadline and still wish to attend, please contact jmorrish@smartrisk.ca

The forum will take place on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at North York Memorial Hall in Toronto from 9am until 4pm.

Funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a new study is being launched to find ways and means to collaborate among Canada’s four national injury prevention organizations: Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada. See below for the full news release on the study.

strong> On average, each day over 30 people are seen in an emergency department for an injury from household machinery or a powered hand tool. Middle-aged males have the highest injury rate.

Learn more about injuries from household machinery in November’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

The first annual Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre Injury Prevention Forum is scheduled for March 3, 2010, at North York Memorial Hall in Toronto. This year’s theme is seniors’ fall prevention. Keynote speakers include such experts in fall prevention as British Columbia’s senior adviser on falls and injury prevention, Dr. Vicky Scott and Lynda McPhee, education coordinator for the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research. See the attachment for details.

Canadians are invited to sign on to the Vancouver Charter on Skiing Safety to show their support for the use of helmets during winter ski sports. Safe Kids Canada launched the charter on Nov. 20 at a winter helmet safety forum to encourage the use of helmets while skiing and snowboarding. British Columbia is the first province to officially endorse the charter, created in the context of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Wednesday, Nov. 18 marks the National Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims, a day to remember those killed or seriously injured on Canadian roads, often in avoidable collisions, and those left to deal with the sudden and unexpected loss of people they love. This year’s theme is Raising awareness of the number of deaths on Canadian roads.

Safe Kids Canada is calling on its partners in injury prevention to ensure Bill C6, an Act respecting the safety of consumer products, passes the Senate. They are asking that injury partners join them in sending letters to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, where the bill sits now.

On average, each month over 125 people are seen in an emergency department for a bus related injury. The senior population have the highest rate of injury.

Learn more about bus related injuries in October’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report(in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

The Ministry of Transportation has produced and made available new road safety resources for use in elementary and high schools. The resources feature printable lesson plans and appendices/handouts for each grade-level resource, as well as general reference information and a community engagement toolkit. Visit http://www.ontarioroadsafety.ca/

Booster seat laws significantly reduce the number of child deaths in the most serious head-on motor vehicle crashes, concludes a new study from York University and the Hospital for Sick Children, published in Injury Prevention. “We know that booster seats reduce injuries to children, and that laws increase their use,” said Alison Macpherson, an assistant professor in York’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science, in a news release announcing the study. “What this study shows is that laws requiring booster seats reduce child deaths in fatal crashes – crashes in which someone dies.”

A new report on childhood injury in Canada recommends altering the built environment to reduce the number of children hurt and killed every year. Modifying roads so they are more pedestrian and bike friendly would reduce the risk of injury and get kids walking to school again, says Dr. Andrew Howard in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

On average, each month 6 people are seen in a hospital for a drowning or near drowning incident. Children and youth represent the majority of cases.

Learn more about drowning and near drowning incidents in September’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation has released two new publications on fatigued driving. The first is a primer entitled The Facts About Fatigued Driving in Ontario – a Guidebook for Police. The second is a brochure geared towards the public, entitled Fatigued Driving, Fast Facts.

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation has produced a report on graduated driver licensing systems throughout North America. The meta-analysis considers different variables that reduce or increase the risk of a fatal crash among teenaged drivers. The full report, An Evaluation of Graduated Driver Licensing Programs in North America, is available at the TIRF website.

The Ontario Medical Association has joined other health-care organizations in calling for a ban on children under 14 riding all-terrain vehicles. The OMA has released a report that says ATVs pose a significant but avoidable risk of injury and death to children.

Fully one third of the 3,000 people hospitalized with ATV injuries in 2004-2005 were between five and 19 years old, the OMA notes in a news release announcing their report. The OMA suggests that children under 14 be banned from operating any size ATVs and that youth 14-16 be allowed to ride only power-restricted vehicles than cannot exceed 30 km/h. The laws governing ATVs vary across the provinces.

On average, each day close to 80 people visit an emergency department for cycling injuries. Children and youth, particularly boys, represent the majority of cases.

Learn more about cycling injuries in August’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report(in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

Injury costs Canadians $19.8 billion annually – more than $600 for each man, woman and child in the country, according to a new report released by SMARTRISK today, The Economic Burden of Injury in Canada. In fact, injury – from falls, traffic, drowning, suicide, violence and other means – remains the leading cause of death for Canadians aged one to 44, taking the lives of 13,667 people in 2004.

For the press release in English and French and to download the executive summaries and full report, see below.

Burden release English

Burden release French

EBI, full report - English

EBI, full report - French

EBI - Eng - ExecSumm

EBI - Fr - ExecSumm

EBI Errata

A new report, Child and Youth Injury in Review, 2009 Edition - Spotlight on Consumer Product Safety, has been released and is available online at Safe Kids Canada. The report notes that unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death to Canada’s children and youth from one to 19 years of age. It provides an overview of the leading causes of injuries and death for children and youth across the country.

The implementation in London of The Period of Purple Crying to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome is featured in an article in the Aug. 17, 2009, London Free Press. For more information on the program, contact Denise Polgar, Injury Prevention Specialist, at the Trauma Program, London Health Sciences Centre/Children’s Hospital.

The Health Communication Unit is offering an introductory-level series of webinars this September. Thanks to a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, the workshops are free to people working with Ontario-focused health promotion initiatives.

Alcohol was involved in at least 12% of major trauma cases in Ontario in the last year, according to the latest Ontario major injury report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Of the 526 patients hospitalized for severe injury who had blood alcohol concentration levels over the legal limit of 0.08%, half were hurt in a motor vehicle collision. The number of severe injuries increased by 11% compared to five years earlier.

On average, every month 20 people are hospitalized for a condition related to exposure to excessive heat, cold, and other forces of nature. The majority of cases involve heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Learn more about injuries due to forces of nature in July’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

Canada’s anti-drinking and driving campaigns are superior to some others, in that not only do they warn of negative consequences for drunk driving but they also offer alternatives, says a new study from the University of Regina. Of five countries studied, Canada had the greatest number of different campaigns, along with a lower fatality rate than the United States.

Challenges to Canada’s impaired driving system are growing, a Traffic Injury Research Foundation survey of Canadian lawyers suggests. Those charged with criminal drinking and driving offences are less likely to plead guilty and are more likely to take their chances at trial, leading to increasing backlogs and court delays.

Registration is now open for this e-learning course, modelled after the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum. Offered online via the University of Victoria, the course will run from Oct. 2 - Oct. 30, 2009 and is $165.

The Not By Accident Conference is occurring on October 15, 2009 in London at the Best Western Lamplighter. Download the file for more information

On average, every week more than 100 people are hospitalized for an injury due to involvement in a motor vehicle collision.

Learn more about injuries due to motor vehicle collisions in June’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

Overview and Findings of the Ontario Paediatric Death Review Committees, 2009
August 11th, 2009
10:00 am-11:00 am EST
Faculty: Karen Bridgman-Acker, MSW, RSW – Child Welfare Specialist, Paediatric Death Review Committee, Deaths Under 5 Committee, Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario

SMARTRISK is moving and will be in new offices, effective Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Our new address is:

SMARTRISK 36 Eglinton Ave. W., Suite 704 Toronto, ON M4R 1A1

Main telephone 416-596-2700 Fax line 416-596-2721

Visit us on the web at www.smartrisk.ca.

A new U.S. report on graduated driver licensing concludes several criteria make for a system that can be expected to lead to the greatest reductions in teen car crash deaths: delays in driver licensing age, strong night driving restrictions and restrictions on teenage passengers.

On average, each day more than 60 people visit an emergency department for injuries due to falling from furniture. Seniors and children represent the majority of cases.

This issue is currently unavailable for download, pending revision.

The Traffic Injury Research Foundation has launched the Alcohol Interlock Curriculum for Practitioners website. The curriculum contains two parts, one available to the public with general information about interlocks, the second targeted towards registered users who wish to deliver education and training about alcohol interlocks to various groups.

This e-learning course is modelled after the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum and is being offered on-line via the University of Victoria. The course will run from May 29 - June 29 and is $165.

Nearly half of Ontario’s Grade 3 students will have taken the Swim to Survive program through the Lifesaving Society by the end of this school year. Any Ontario school board with its own aquatic facility(s) may apply for a grant. To date, the Society has approved over $2.6 million in Swim to Survive grants and reached over 162,000 Grade 3 students.

This is the final Ontario Injury Spotlight, featuring: the Be Visible campaign in Halton; Be Safe, Be Seen in Oxford County; an alcohol liability workshop for golf courses and recreation facilities; resources on the province’s new “warn range” sanctions for drinking and driving; Safe Kids Canada resources for health units; input sought on ski and snowboarding helmet regulations; and Safe Kids Week.

View the May - June Spotlight

On average, each day approximately 40 people visit an emergency department for an injury due to contact with venomous plants or animals. The overwhelming majority of incidents involve being stung by a bee, wasp, or hornet. Individuals who have an allergy or suspect they have an allergy should consult with their doctor and take the necessary precautions.

Learn more about injuries due to contact with venomous plants and animals in April’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

A new brain injury virtual community has been launched, created by and for survivors of brain injury, their families and advocates. Based out of Ontario, the actively moderated forum aims to attract members from throughout Canada and around the world. In the first month since its launch, the forum has reached 100 new members.

Ontario drivers will be banned from using hand-held cellphones and other devices as early as this fall, as the province’s new distracted driving legislation passed third reading on April 22, 2009. Drivers will face fines of up to $500 if they are caught texting, dialling or chatting on a hand-held device. Hands-free devices will still be permitted.

The Canadian government has passed new safety regulations on corded window coverings to help prevent strangulation deaths among babies and young children. It is also proposing changes to regulations governing cribs, cradles and bassinets. Health Canada has reports of 28 strangulation deaths and 22 near-fatal incidents linked to window cords since 1986.

Please join the Alcohol Policy Network and the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre as they facilitate a teleconference on alcohol and violence. The presentation provides a summary of research, theory and practice described in the recent book by Graham and Homel (2008). It starts with discussion of a model of bar violence that draws on situational crime prevention, routine activities and social interaction theory. The model includes the role of alcohol, the patrons who frequent bars, staff who work in licensed settings, the barroom environment, social process leading to aggression and the larger regulatory environment. The second part of the presentation focuses on the different approaches that have been developed for preventing bar violence including evidence of their effectiveness.

If you are interested in joining this FREE teleconference, presented by Dr. Kathryn Graham of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health on Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. EST, the Alcohol Policy Network and the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre invite you to complete the registration form found at:

REGISTER ONLINE

Click here to download an MP3 recording of the session
Note: to save this file on your computer, please right click it and select the “Save Link As” option

In order to raise awareness of new drinking and driving “warn range” sanctions coming into effect on May 1, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation will distribute bilingual information cards and posters (see below) through ServiceOntario. Beginning on May 1, 2009, drivers whose blood alcohol concentration registers from .05 to .08 on a roadside breath test will lose their driver’s licences for three to 30 days. Drivers caught more than once face mandatory alcohol education programs and ignition interlock. For more information, contact the Ministry’s Lenni Eubanks at 416-235-5118 or lenni.eubanks@ontario.ca .

MTO Infocard

MTO Infocard French

Health Canada is inviting input on its proposal to implement legally binding controls on the advertising, sale and import of ski and snowboarding helmets, based on the newly developed Canadian Standards Association standard for recreational alpine skiing and snowboarding helmets. Currently, snow sport helmets are not regulated in Canada, unlike ice hockey helmets, which must comply with a CSA standard before they can be sold in Canada.

Safe Kids Canada and the Ministry of Health Promotion are pleased to announce the availability of a number of injury prevention resources for public health units across Ontario. Please contact Christiane Mitchell at 1-888-SAFE-TIP or email christiane.mitchell@sickkids.ca to order quantities of the following resources. The resources are available free of charge.

On average, each day approximately 20 people visit an emergency department and 3 are admitted to a hospital for a transport-related pedestrian injury. The highest rates for emergency department visits are among teens and the highest hospitalization rates are found among seniors.

Learn more about pedestrian related injuries in March’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

The nomination deadline for Ontario’s annual Road Safety Awards is Friday, March 27. The awards recognize excellence in a number of areas, including professional, volunteer, media, corporate leadership, partnerships and initiative of the year. See the documents below for details.

RSAA Nomination Form

RSAA FAQs

This Learning Series will be held entirely in French

Blessures 101: Une introduction aux blessures et à leur prevention March 26th, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:00 AMEST
Faculty: *Françoise Hubley, (RN, Bscn) *

On average, each month, close to 700 people visit an emergency department for injuries from contact with hot water or food. The highest rates are found among young children.

Learn more about injuries due to contact with hot water and food in February’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download file (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

This issue features: an email campaign urging passage of a bill that would mandate helmet standards; a sneak peek into Learning Series topics for the next few months; an invitation to arrange for workshops in your region; research on child injuries; a variety of new resources; and a note on the delayed national conference.

View the March - April 2009 Spotlight.

The Perth District and Huron County health units are hosting a half-day workshop on March 24 in Mitchell, Ont., on alcohol-related liability and its implications for golf clubs and recreational facilities. The guest speaker is the University of Western Ontario’s Professor Robert Solomon, who has more than 35 years experience in research and teaching on substance abuse policy, and tort, health care and criminal law.

Prof. Solomon has a particular interest in the recent emergence of civil liability for alcohol-related injuries. He has designed server and manager intervention programs for numerous organizations and is the National Director of Legal Policy for Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada. The $25 registration fee includes Prof. Solomon’s session and a Q & A, materials, refreshments and lunch. See the brochure below for details and registration information.

Alcohol Liability Workshop Brochure

The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation has launched a Request for Applications aimed to expand its Shaken Baby Syndrome program by offering start-up support for health care facilities and communities interested in implementing this best practice intervention. The primary goal of the ONF is to prevent and reduce the incidence of Inflicted Infant Head Trauma (also known as Shaken Baby Syndrome) by working with a greater number of partners involved in providing information, education and training to parents and caregivers. The deadline for online application is March 2, 2009, at 4 p.m.

Substance Use, Substance Abuse and Injuries: An Overview February 19th, 2009
1:00 PM to 2:00 PMEST
Faculty: Dr. Robert Mann, Senior Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

A new book on catastrophic injuries in sports and recreation by Dr. Charles Tator has just been released. The book presents a comprehensive description and analysis of all catastrophic injuries cases reported during four 12-month periods over a decade for more than 100 sports and recreational activities in Ontario. Included are personal and population risk data and injury prevention strategies and tips for each activity.

The Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference, originally scheduled for November 2009 in Vancouver, has been postponed until the fall of 2011. The decision was made after much deliberation by conference partners Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada.

On average, each day, over 60 people visit an emergency department for injuries from a fall involving ice and snow. The highest rates are found among older adults.

Learn more about injuries due to falls involving ice and snow in January’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

The Ontario Alliance for Action on Brain Injury is applauding a new Ontario Hockey League rule that requires players to keep their helmets on with chinstraps fastened during fights. The decision was announced days after a 21-year-old hockey player died after striking his head on the ice during a fight.

Bill 118 the Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2008 January 29th, 2009
10:00 am-11:00 am EST
Faculty: Logan Purdy and Lenni Eubanks from the MTO

This issue features highlights from the Ontario Injury Prevention Conference; new curricula offered in Toronto; information on a popular child safety newsletter in Middlesex-London; a campaign targeting parents of young children in Kingston; an update on the new health standards; and information on Safe Kids Week 2009.

View the January – February 2009 Spotlight.

Injury prevention, chronic disease and substance abuse professionals are invited to attend the 6th annual Alcohol: No Ordinary Commodity forum in Toronto on March 5, 2009. This year’s particular focus considers the links between alcohol and injury prevention, as well as alcohol and chronic disease.

On average, each week over 40 people visit an emergency department for injuries from snowmobiling. Males represent the vast majority of these cases.

Learn more about snowmobiling injuries in December’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

On average, every day 38 people visit an emergency department for treatment for an incident involving self-inflicted poisoning.

Learn more about self-inflicted poisoning incidents in November’s Ontario Injury Compass. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

On Tuesday November 18, 2008, the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre released three Evidence-Based Synthesis Practice Documents on the following topics:

Alcohol Related Injury Download file

Falls Across the Lifespan Download file

Sports and Recreation Injuries Download file

The purpose of these documents are to inform Ontario public health professionals and their community partners of evidence-informed practice for the implementation of the Prevention of Injury and Substance Misuse standard of the new Ontario Public Health Standards and Protocols, released October 31, 2008. These documents are based upon earlier systematic literature reviews conducted by the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre staff in 2007-2008. The earlier reviews are available by request from the Resource Centre.

The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation (ONF) has launched the 2009 Summer Internship Program in Injury Prevention aimed at preventing traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. 

You can find the Call for Proposals on the ONF website at http://www.onf.org/index_prev.html# and click on 2009 Summer Internship Program in Injury Prevention.  You can download the Call in PDF format by clicking here: Download file

The deadline for online application is January 9, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

Dangers of Self Asphyxia - The Choking Game December 11, 2008
10:00 am-11:00 am EST
Faculty: Sharron Grant and Kristen Orser

Injury prevention practitioners need to “pick more fights” to get their issues on the public agenda, keynote speaker, journalist and author André Picard, told delegates to the 2008 Ontario Injury Prevention Conference in Toronto. About 225 people attended the conference that featured compelling keynote speakers and in-depth examinations of injury issues.

It would take up to 36 months for new drivers to graduate to a full licence under legislation proposed by the Ontario government. The new rules also specify no alcohol for drivers up to age 21, tougher penalties for novice drivers who break the graduated licensing rules and new restrictions on teen passengers.

The new Ontario Public Health Standards have been published and sent to all of the province’s 36 boards of health. The standards establish the minimum requirements for fundamental public health programs and services, which include assessment and surveillance, health promotion and policy development, disease and injury prevention and health protection.

This issue features keynote speakers and program highlights for the Ontario Injury Prevention Conference 2008; a French-language session of the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum; research on speeding; an ATV campaign from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit; the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation’s work with the Ontario Alliance for Action on Brain Injury to bring attention to the issue of acquired brain injuries; and the outcome of a pool fencing motion in Ottawa.

View the November - December 2008 Spotlight.

On average, every week 30 people are hospitalized for an injury due to falling from a bed. Injuries to the hip and thigh in females over 70 years of age are the most common.

Learn more about injuries resulting from falls from beds in October’s Ontario Injury Compass

The October issue of Compass is part of a series of e-reports produced by the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. Each report focuses on a single injury issue and provides Ontario data broken down by age, sex and region.

Each report also includes prevention tips and a list of additional resources pertaining to the injury topic.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by email each month.

The government of Ontario has introduced legislation that would ban the use of hand-held electronic devices while driving. Motorists who use a hand-held cellphone, send email or text messages or use other hand-held devices while driving would face fines up to $500, under the bill. The use of hands-free devices would still be permitted.

For anyone who hasn’t yet registered for OIPC 2008, here’s your chance to participate in this unique conference, at the very best rates.

We are pleased to announce the Early Bird deadline has now been extended to Monday, October 27th and remember, there are also great hotel discounts for anyone staying at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel. Guests must register with the hotel before Monday, October 27th to benefit from this special hotel promotion.

The full program is now available, and it promises to be an exciting and informative conference.

For details and to register, visit: www.oipc.org

In the year since the Ontario government passed new legislation targeting street racing, more than 7,500 people have been charged with exceeding the speed limit by 50 or more kilometres per hour. The good news, the Ontario Provincial Police say in a news release, is that traffic deaths on roads they patrol have fallen by a third – standing at 233 as of the end of September, versus 354 in 2007. Meanwhile, the Traffic Injury Research Foundation reports that an estimated 5.4 million Canadians admit to excessive speeding.

Young and new workers are the focus of a new workplace safety awareness campaign in Ontario launched by the Industrial Accident Prevention Association. Young workers are twice as likely to be victims of work-related injuries as adults, research shows, and are five times as likely to be hurt during their first four weeks on the job.

On average, each hour 3 people visit an emergency department for an injury due to a sport-related collision with another person. Hockey injuries in males 15-19 years of age contribute to the majority of ER visits and hospitalizations.

Learn more about injuries resulting from collisions in sports in September’s Ontario Injury Compass

The September issue of Compass is part of a series of e-reports produced by the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. Each report focuses on a single injury issue and provides Ontario data broken down by age, sex and region.

Each report also includes prevention tips and a list of additional resources pertaining to the injury topic.

Download the report(in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

André Picard, public health reporter at The Globe and Mail and one of Canada’s top public policy writers, and Michael Adams, president of Environics and best-selling author, have been announced as keynote speakers for the Ontario Injury Prevention Conference, to be held Nov. 16-18 in Toronto.

The Ontario Medical Association is calling on the province to “take action to curb the use of cellphones while driving.” The OMA has released a report, summarizing the evidence that driving while talking on the phone increases the crash risk. The report, Cellular Phone Use and Driving: A Dangerous Combination, makes a number of recommendations and is available online.

New research suggests Ontario’s bicycle helmet legislation has helped reduce the number of children killed in bicycle crashes. An average of six child cyclists under the age of 16 have lost their lives each year since the law took effect in 1995; that’s compared to 13 annually before the law was passed.

This issue features plans for French language services at the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre; a preview of the Ontario Injury Prevention Conference 2008; a new Buckle Up campaign from a North-Bay based injury prevention group; new data analyses from CHIRPP and a Statistics Canada report on vehicle crashes; and the start to a charter of violence prevention. View the September – October 2008 Spotlight .

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by email each month.

Mark your calendars for the 2008 Ontario Injury Prevention Conference, Blazing Trails: Exploring New Frontiers in Injury Prevention, Nov. 16-18, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Toronto. Don’t miss out on this unique conference opportunity to blaze trails and explore new frontiers in injury prevention.

The Ontario Injury Prevention Conference 2008 is organized by SMARTRISK, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and the Ontario Public Health Association. The organizing team is proud to offer a whole new conference format this year, featuring innovative skill-building sessions.

On average, more than 15 people each day are seen in Ontario emergency departments for injuries related to all-terrain vehicles. More than one person is hospitalized each day for an ATV injury; males 15-19 are most commonly injured.

Learn more about ATV related injuries in July’s Ontario Injury Compass

The July issue of Compass is part of a series of e-reports produced by the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. Each report focuses on a single injury issue and provides Ontario data broken down by age, sex and region.

Each report also includes prevention tips and a list of additional resources pertaining to the injury topic. Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by e-mail each month.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Bob Baker as the new President & CEO of SMARTRISK, effective Aug. 5, 2008. SMARTRISK, founded in 1991 by pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Robert Conn, is a national charity dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Since 2005 SMARTRISK has hosted the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre.

Click Here to Download the Announcement in PDF form

We are pleased to announce that Pam Farmer has accepted our offer to become the new Research Associate at SMARTRISK where she will be heavily involved in the activities of the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. She will have primary responsibility for producing the monthly Ontario Injury Compass, as well as responding to requests for injury data, replacing Kelly Cimek who is leaving to assume a new position as Information Controller at the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network and Hamilton Health Sciences.

Pam brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this position. She received her Master of Science in Kinesiology and Health Science: Epidemiology from York University where she trained under Dr. Alison Macpherson. Her Masters thesis on “The Impact of Booster Seat Legislation on Restraint Use and Fatality Risk in Frontal Crashes among Children” was nominated for a faculty award, and has been provisionally accepted for publication with the journal Injury Prevention. She has been involved in various other research projects in the field, including serving as Team Leader/Field Surveyor for the “National Survey on Enhanced Vehicle Safety for Children,” conducted by AUTO21.

Her strong background in the epidemiology of injury, and the challenges of healthy public policy for injury prevention will be great assets to her in this position.

Please join us in welcoming Pam to SMARTRISK and in wishing both Pam and Kelly all the best in their new positions.

Between June and September, there was an average of 28 hospitalizations per month associated with boating. Most injuries occurred on-board a watercraft.

Learn more about boating related injuries in June’s Ontario Injury Compass

The June issue of Compass is part of a series of e-reports produced by the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre. Each report focuses on a single injury issue and provides Ontario data broken down by age, sex and region.

Each report also includes prevention tips and a list of additional resources pertaining to the injury topic.

Download the report (in PDF format) or sign up via email at compass@oninjuryresources.ca to automatically receive the reports by email each month.

This issue features the evaluation of a helmet program in Hamilton; a follow-up on pool fencing initiatives from Safe Kids Canada; a wrap-up of the Aging Driver Mobility Forum; a research report on alcohol sales and a new youth traffic resource; news on upcoming SMARTRISK Learning Series and Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum sessions and the departure from SMARTRISK of founder Dr. Robert Conn. View the July - August 2008 Spotlight.

Sprinkler systems will be required in all new Ontario multiple-unit residential buildings higher than three storeys as of April 2010, under changes to the Ontario Building Code that have long been sought by the Ontario Fire Marshal, fire chiefs and others. The changes harmonize the province’s building code with the National Building Code and codes in other jurisdictions. The new requirements apply to new construction, additions and major renovations.

“The experience of other jurisdictions across North America is clear: residential sprinklers significantly reduce injuries, deaths and property loss due to fire. This requirement is a huge step forward in the protection of citizens of this province from fire,” said Pat Burke, Fire Marshal of Ontario in a news release

We are pleased to announce the 2008 Ontario Injury Prevention Conference (OIPC) to be held November 16 – 18, at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown Toronto. Don’t miss out on this unique conference opportunity. Delegates are invited to take injury prevention from theory to practice and beyond.

Every four hours in Ontario, one child visits an emergency department and every four days one child is hospitalized due to a violence-related injury.  Injuries to the head are most common.

Learn more about violence among children in May’s Ontario Injury Compass.

Latest statistics show that the number of people killed on Ontario’s roads has fallen to the lowest number since 1950. Premier Dalton McGuinty’s government recognized the province’s road safety partners on May 5, who have helped to make the province’s roads among the safest in North America. In addition, the government notes it has continued to act to cut the rate of death and injury further, including adopting measures to address impaired driving and street racing. You can read the news release at the Ministry of Transportation’s website and read the latest Ontario Road Safety Annual Report.

This issue features Spotlight evaluation results; an overview of the May SMARTRISK Learning Series sessions; details of an upcoming falls prevention symposium; research reports on healthy children and healthy youth and new reports from CIHI; a new suicide prevention resource; and a report on the progress of Safe Communities’ new Ontario strategy. View the May - June 2008 Spotlight.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has released a new report, Healthy Settings for Young People in Canada. It notes there are some positive changes in health behaviours and attitudes for young people in grades 6-10 since the last report in 2004. Smoking rates have fallen among boys and girls, along with reports of marijuana and alcohol use.

The challenges cited were high rates of overweight and obesity, sedentary behaviour and physical injury. Nearly half of boys in grades 6-10 reported having had at least one injury requiring medical treatment in the last year, compared to about a third of girls. Visit the PHAC to read the report.

Canada ranks 22nd of 29 countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in preventable childhood injuries and deaths, says a new report from Kellie Leitch, the Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth to Health Minister Tony Clement. Dr. Leitch recommends developing and implementing a national injury prevention strategy for children and youth in Reaching for the Top: A Report by the Advisor on Healthy Children and Youth. The executive summary is available online or you can e-mail for a PDF of the full report.

Canadian hospitals spend more money caring for patients with injuries than for any other medical condition, with the exception of circulatory diseases. The new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information is the first of its kind to examine what hospitals spend by acute care patient stay and by medical condition. The Cost of Acute Care Hospital Stays by Medical Condition in Canada: 2004-2005, focuses on the cost of treating patients admitted to hospital for at least one night. Visit www.cihi.ca to download the report.

This issue features an introduction to the SMARTRISK Learning Series videos; London’s new Shaken Baby Syndrome program; a seatbelt campaign featuring a Canadian Forces Snowbird; new research on snowmobiling, child injury and drivers with medical conditions; a tobogganing paper from ThinkFirst; and a request to evaluate the Ontario Injury Spotlight. View the March - April 2008 Spotlight.

The Canadian Institutes for Health Research has set up a series of teleconference meetings, beginning Thursday, Feb. 28, for researchers planning to apply for the CIHR Strategic Teams in Applied Injury Research (STAIR), following the omnibus meeting held in December. These meetings will allow researchers, and other stakeholders with an interest in specific research priorities identified for the competition, to meet and discuss plans.

The hope is that teams may be able to recruit additional members, find community partners, and for those working in similar areas, to find either common ground for a joint application, or a clearer understanding of the distinctions between their individual proposals. The schedule of dates and times by research priority area, follows.

Welcome to the newly renovated Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre website. We have worked to make the website even more user friendly by adding new features and creating an easier to use layout. Following are some key changes you will see on the website.

If you’ve had to miss a session of the SMARTRISK Learning Series – or you would like to revisit a favourite one – you can now view past sessions of this educational program as online videos. No special software is needed – just click and watch and listen. Meanwhile, register now for the Feb. 27 session on alcohol-related civil liability.

The OIPRC website will be undergoing renovations over the next few days. As a result, some pages may be temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.

This issue features: news from the Resource Centre, including detailed results of the needs/capacity survey and an update on SMARTRISK Learning Series topics; news from the field, including the Think and Drive social marketing campaign from Niagara Region and the Ontario Transportation Ministry’s 95% Challenge; a research report from the Alcohol Policy Network on alcohol and youth trends; partner news from Safe Kids Canada and highlights from the Ontario Injury Compass. View the January-February 2008 Ontario Injury Spotlight.

A partnership to bring safer partying information to university students. Looking at the needs of university students related to alcohol and drug use in terms of impairment, liability issues, communication and violence prevention. To download more information about this program, click on the FORUM button on this page and go to the Alcohol and Substance Use Category.

With generous support from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, Safe Kids Canada has launched the Ontario Children’s Rural Safety Program, a public awareness and education campaign designed to facilitate environmental changes to create safe rural environments for children.

The Ontario Children’s Rural Safety Program addresses the area of primary prevention and provides a unique opportunity for Ontario, as the first province in Canada to undertake a coordinated dissemination strategy in this domain, to play a leadership role and pave the way to a national uptake of the program.

Those who wish to participate in the program can order the revised North American Guidelines for Children’s Agricultural Tasks booklet, as well as informational handouts and posters, and gain access to print, radio and television ads which can be run by local media outlets. For more information, click on the FORUM button on this page and go to the General Injury Prevention Category.

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Road Safety Marketing Office has developed a seatbelt initiative that has been designed to engage secondary school students across the province. The 95% Challenge encourages students to promote seatbelt use within their schools and challenges them to increase the school’s seatbelt compliance rate to 95%. Until April 4th, 2008 secondary schools can plan, develop, and implement seatbelt public education initiatives and submit their activities to be considered for one of four $1,000 cash prizes. To view more information, click the FORUM button on this page and go to the Motor Vehicle Injuries Category.

In response to strong demand from Ontario’s injury prevention practitioners, the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre will host another two-day workshop of the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum, on Dec. 3-4, 2007, in Toronto at the SMARTRISK offices. This $200 workshop is offered free to Ontario public health staff.

If you are interested in attending a falls curriculum workshop outside of the Toronto area, sessions can be arranged in your region. Again, these are available at no cost to Ontario’s public health practitioners.

See the flyer for full details on the curriculum and how to sign up.

ThinkFirst Foundation and the Ministry of Health Promotion are teaming up under the Ontario Safe Sport Helmet Initiative to provide free sports helmets to Ontario community centres, recreation centres and non-profit youth-focused groups that offer sport or recreation programs targeting those in financial need. Applications are due by Oct. 19.

The Third Annual Symposium was held on Monday May 14, 2007, at York Region in Richmond Hill with 45 participants from 16 different organizations. The planning committee included representatives from York Region Health Services, Toronto Public Health, and the Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre.

Symposium Theme: A Multi-Faceted Approach to Falls Prevention

Evaluations reflected the day was a huge success.

Save the date for next year—June 10, 2008 in Brampton. Stay tuned for more information.

The Follow-up Newsletter from the Planning Committee highlights key points from the Symposium.

The early bird registration deadline for the 2007 Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference has been extended to Sept. 28. The conference takes place from Nov. 11-13 in Toronto and includes a number of satellite events and working meetings before and after the conference.

The first study of road rage victimization among adolescents finds that one in 10 Ontario youths say they have been threatened with personal injury or damage to their vehicles and one in 20 were victims of vehicle damage or personal injury. That suggests adolescents are more commonly targets of road rage than adults.

People with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury, and their family members/caregivers are invited to sign up for a free quarterly newsletter being launched by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation. NeuroMatters will contain information on research findings, the ONF and its work, and offer opportunities to shape research and learn more.

Southwest Injury Prevention Conference 2007 - Not by Accident Teachable Moments: Your Role in Preventing Injuries Oct. 2, 2007 at the Lamplighter Inn, London, Ont.

This conference is designed for the emergency service provider who works on the front line. The Not By Accident planning committee recognizes that police officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency room staff, through their first hand experiences with trauma, can be a strong and credible resource for injury prevention. This conference is designed for those ‘working in the trenches’, to help them recognize their role in injury prevention and to take advantage of the “teachable moment”.

The goals of this year’s Not By Accident Conference are to: - Create opportunities to enhance knowledge and awareness of the injury epidemic - Enhance the perception of injury prevention priorities as a role for the Emergency Service Provider - Provide tools to identify and support local initiatives in their communities

See the registration form for more details.

Linda Yenssen will join the Ontario Injury Prevention and Resource Centre team at SMARTRISK as a Senior Program Coordinator on Tuesday September 4, 2007.

Linda served on the OIPRC Advisory Committee early in the development of the resource centre.  She has an extensive background in public health and has most recently worked for the Grey Bruce Health Unit in Walkerton. Within public health, Linda has worked in the field of injury prevention for 17 years.

As a university-trained registered nurse, Linda brings knowledge, skill and dedication. She is very familiar with the Ontario Health Promotion Resource System and brings many years of experience in partnership building, project planning, health promotion, project implementation and evaluation to this position.

The preliminary program for the Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference is now available online, offering a wide variety of plenary and concurrent sessions, entertainment and satellite sessions. Early registration – with savings of $100 until Sept. 15 – is underway for the Nov. 11-13 conference to be held in Toronto.

Ontario’s Ministry of Health Promotion has launched an injury prevention strategy – the first of its kind in Ontario – to reduce the frequency, severity and impact of preventable injuries. The Aug. 8 launch included an announcement that the government will fund ThinkFirst Canada to provide free helmets for low-income children and youth.

Each day in Ontario, more than 65 people visit an emergency department and almost every day one person is hospitalized due to a tool-related injury. Injuries are most frequent in the summer. Learn more about tool-related injuries in July’s Ontario Injury Compass.

The Canadian Red Cross’s program to prevent violence and abuse, RespectED, has released two articles aimed at parents of children and teenagers. The articles deal with what to look for when assessing a summer camp and the risks teenagers face during the summer when they may be unsupervised more often.

Download the articles (in Microsoft Word format) below:

• Parents should assess camp safety before sending kids
• The “Dog Days” of Summer Can Also Bite

Although the number of Ontario children visiting emergency rooms with playground injuries has remained fairly steady over the last few years, substantially fewer children are arriving with head injuries, new research from the Canadian Institute for Health Information concludes. This might be due to injury prevention measures, including better playground design.

Algoma Public Health has released a detailed evaluation of its Creating Safer Homes Project. The project involved 69 households with children aged 0-6 years, who were part of the Healthy Babies Healthy Children long-term home visiting program. Families received home safety assessments and then had safety devices provided and installed for them, based on the assessment results.

Nearly 1.3 million Ontarians fell asleep or briefly nodded off while driving at least once in the past year, according to a new poll taken by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation. Of these, an estimated 100,000 dozed off at least five times.

The Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre has released the report Injuries among Seniors in Ontario: A Descriptive Analysis of Emergency Department and Hospitalization Data.

Key findings include: - In 2004/05, there were over 1.3 million emergency department visits due to injury in Ontario. Adults 65 years of age and older accounted for 11% of these visits, totalling over 146,000 visits. - There were a total of 76,444 injury hospitalizations in Ontario during the 2004/05 fiscal year. Seniors accounted for 40% of these hospitalizations, which amounts to almost 31,000 injury hospitalizations. - Falls were by far the most common type of injury for seniors, followed by transport incidents.

The report also presents patterns of emergency visits and hospitalizations for a variety of factors, such as age, sex, month of admission, cause of injury and discharge status. In addition, injury patterns are broken down by region and Local Health Integration Network.

Two sources of injury data were used: emergency department data from the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) and acute care hospitalization data from the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) at the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Download the report [PDF - 3.7MB]