For more information contact:
Theresa Lyczko at (607) 274-6714
Safety is No Accident — Theme of National Public Health Week — April 4–10
April 6, 2011 (Ithaca, N.Y.) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that preventable injuries rank among the top 10 causes of death of people of all ages in the United States. Each year 150,000 people die from injuries and almost 30 million are injured seriously enough to go the emergency room. For example, in Tompkins County, falls are the top reason emergency medical services are called. In 2009 falls resulted in 1,107 out of 8,669 calls (13%).
Many times people think injuries are the same as accidents. When they hear the term “accident” they think that it’s something unavoidable, something that just happens and is not preventable. In most instances, that’s not true. There are many things that we can do where we live, work and play to avoid injuries.
- Dispose of unused medications responsibly at the Medication Disposal Event on Saturday, April 9th. Visit www.recycletompkins.org for more information
- Assess your home for potential hazards such as poor lighting and uneven surfaces to prevent falls.
- Install and maintain smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
- Establish a plan for how you would evacuate from your home in the event of an emergency.
- Make sure all electrical outlets are covered and inaccessible to children.
- Supervise young children whenever they’re near cooking surfaces and never leave food unattended on the stove.
- Install four-sided isolation fencing at least five feet high and equipped with self-latching gates to prevent drownings in home swimming pools
- Store cleaning supplies and medicines in locked cabinets out of the reach of children
- Check your hot water heater periodically and adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to avoid burns.
- Check your home for such things as throw rugs, exposed cords that could be hazardous to older adults.
- Be sure to wear your seat belt when driving and encourage passengers to do the same.
- Remind teenagers, college students, and busy adults not to use cell phones or text while they’re driving. They risk the safety of everyone on the road and it’s against the law.
For more information go to www.nphw.org or www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/injury_prevention
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Page updated: July 19, 2012 | Webmaster