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Injury and Violence Prevention News
| 1. |
Action Teams Begin Their Work To Prevent Sexual Violence in Minnesota |
| 2. |
More Common Than Most People Think: Traumatic Brain Injury in Minnesota |
| 3. |
Unintentional Poisoning Has Spiked as Cause of Injury |
| 4. |
Ways To Prevent Summer Sports Injuries |
| 5. |
September Event Helps Parents Learn to Fit Child Passenger Seats Correctly |
1. Action Teams Begin Their Work To Prevent Sexual Violence in Minnesota
In 2005, 61,000 Minnesotans were sexually assaulted, and sexual violence costs were estimated at $8 billion.
Clearly, sexual violence is a major public health issue. MDH is working with many other organizations and agencies on prevention. Three Action Teams have begun meeting to implement the state prevention plan: Framing and Messaging, Policy and Legislation, and Data and Research. To join any of the Action Teams, contact Amy Kenzie at amy.kenzie@health.state.mn.us. Persons who are unable to attend meetings can participate by telephone or e-mail.
For more information, see the MDH Sexual Violence Prevention Web site, http://www.health.state.mn.us/injury/topic/svp/index.cfm, particularly:
Costs of Sexual Violence in
The Promise of Primary Prevention: A Five-Year Plan to Prevent Sexual Violence and Exploitation in
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2. More Common Than Most People Think: Traumatic Brain Injury in Minnesota
The MDH Injury and Violence Prevention Unit presented these data at a recent news conference at which Corey Koskie, a Minnesota Twins player who sustained a concussion, was introduced as a spokesperson for the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota (BIAMN).
MDH is working with the BIAMN and other partners to prevent TBI. The most common causes are motor vehicle crashes, falls, and sports injuries.
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3. Unintentional Poisoning Has Spiked as Cause of Injury
- In 2005,65 people died every day from unintentional poisoning, and the number of deaths has been increasing.
- Nearly all the deaths resulted from drug poisoning, and more than half were due to prescription drugs.
- Poisoning is not just a childhood problem. It affects adolescents and adults in increasing numbers.
- Follow directions on labels. Some medicines cannot be taken safely with other medications or with alcohol.
- Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
- Never share or sell prescription drugs.
- Keep any opioid pain medications in a safe place only reachable by people who take or give them.
- Monitor the use of medicines prescribed for children and teenagers, such as medicines for attention deficit disorder.
- Keep the 24-hour poison control number (1-800-222-1222) on all home phones and cell phones. In any emergency, dial 911.
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4. Ways To Prevent Summer Sports Injuries
- Buy and always use helmets or protective head gear approved for specific sports.
- Wear appropriate clothing for the sport.
- Do not participate in sports when very tired or ill.
- Discard and replace damaged sporting equipment or protective gear.
- When playing baseball, never slide head-first into a base.
- When cycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading, obey all traffic signals, be aware of drivers, and avoid uneven or unpaved surfaces.
- Supervise younger children at all times and do not allow use of sporting equipment or play that is unsuitable for their age.
- Do not let young children use playgrounds with hard surfaces.
- Perform regular safety checks of sports fields, playgrounds and equipment.
- Prevent diving into water less than nine feet deep or in above-ground pools.
- Follow all rules and warning signs at water parks, swimming pools, and public beaches.
- Require football players to receive adequate preconditioning and strengthening of the head and neck muscles, and teach and follow proper blocking and tackling techniques.
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5. September Event Helps Parents Learn to Fit Child Passenger Seats Correctly
Three out of four child passenger seats are not fitted correctly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA) is sponsoring National Seat Check Saturday on September 20. It is a nationwide, coordinated emphasis on child safety seat inspections and will lead off this year’s Child Passenger Safety Week.
Find inspection locations in
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Also see > National Center for Injury Prevention & Control (NCIPC), at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for the latest injury prevention news at the national-level.
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Injury and Violence Prevention Unit
Minnesota Department of Health PO BOX 64882 ST PAUL MN 55164-0882 (651) 201-5484 injury.prevention@health.state.mn.us |
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