Injury Prevention Across North Carolina

Newsletter | August 2020 | Vol 1 Issue 3

Back to School - Adjusting to the "New" Normal

The Injury Prevention Newsletter is created by Injury Prevention Coordinators from across the state of North Carolina to bring resources to North Carolinians about injury prevention. The quarterly interactive newsletter will cover many injury prevention topics. Our third edition is focused on Back to School time and looking at our "new normal". Click the links for information on DIY safety, Falls Prevention Awareness Week, child passenger safety, healthy online relationships, backpack and crosswalk safety, burn & home safety, and cooking safety.

Fire safety first. Always keep a chemical fire extinguisher in the house. We suggest under the kitchen sink and in your utility closet or laundry room. Never use water to put out a fire in an electrical appliance.

Drill etiquette. When using a power drill, unplug the drill before fitting parts and remove the chuck key before switching it on. Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry, which could get caught in the drill.

Stand tall. Ladders are one of the main causes of DIY accidents. Erect the ladder according to the manufacturer's instructions. Never lean to one side as you could lose balance.

Take it slow. Don't rush as you're more likely to have an accident. Carefully plan the job before you start work. Know your limitations and consult a professional if you are unsure.

Safety & DIY Projects

DIY in style. Wear protective clothing including safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask when working with potentially hazardous materials such as glass or spray paint.

Clear the air. When painting, or using any material that generates toxic fumes or dust, keep the room well ventilated. Never smoke while painting or standing close to a freshly painted area.

Out of sight, out of mind. Store tools in a safe place, out of the way of children and pets. Keep them in a box or secured on a rack.

Respect the knife.When using knives, always cut away from you. Use a baton as a guide and run a sharp knife along the edge of it. Always store knives securely.

Power down. When fixing electrical appliances or connections, always switch off the power and remove the fuse or circuit breaker. If you're fixing an electrical appliance, switch off the appliance at the socket and pull out the plug.

Home Safety & Outdoor Repairs (Spanish)

Falls Prevention Awareness & Physical Activity Amid Social Distancing

Every year, Falls Prevention Awareness Week is celebrated during the first week of Fall. This year, that will be September 21 - 25, 2020. Even though we may be staying at home due to COVID-19, many senior centers and other agencies across the state are offering virtual alternatives to keep our seniors moving!

Check the list below for examples of some virtual exercise and activity options for seniors, listed by county:

To see what is happening across NC for Falls Prevention Awareness Week in September, visit Healthy Aging NC. For more virtual fitness classes and resources, you can visit these national websites as well: Senior Planet and YMCA.

National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week - Sept 20-26, 2020

Finding the Right Seat

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) primary goal for child passenger safety is to make sure all parents and caregivers are correctly using the right car seats (rear-facing car seats, forward-facing car seats, and/or booster seats) or seat belts for their children’s ages and sizes.

Car Seat Installation

Most parents are confident that they have correctly installed their child’s car seat, but in most cases (59%), the seat has not been installed correctly. Check out these Car Seat Safety Tips.

Remember:

To read and carefully follow the installation instructions included with a car seat, as well as the vehicle owner's manual. Failure to do this can lead to incorrect installation, exposing a child to the risk of injury or death in a crash.
All children under 13 should always ride in the back seat.

Check out the videos below to learn how to properly install your child's car seat.

To find a Child Passenger Safety technician near you, visit the Buckle Up NC website and choose your county and the program type (either permanent checking station or Safe Kids program).

Call prior to find going out to verify if they are offering virtual visits. These virtual visits allow for face to face instructions and to answer questions.

Healthy Online Relationships

With more time being spent online for the entire family, it's important to establish healthy online habits.Here are some ways to maintain healthy online relationships for all ages. 15 Netiquette Rules

Elementary

Remote Learning Safety

Teens

https://www.loveisrespect.org/

Young Adults

College Guide to Data-Cyber Protection

Older Adults

Dating Safety in Age of Technology

Backpack Safety &

Crosswalk Safety

Head Up, Phone Down

Distracted walking incidents are on the rise, and everyone with a cell phone is at risk. We are losing focus on our surroundings and putting our safety at risk. The solution: Stop using phones while walking, and not just in crosswalks and intersections. Over half of distracted walking injuries occur in our own homes, proving that we need to stay aware of our surroundings whether indoors and out.

10 Walking Safety Tips

Burn & Home Safety

Video: How to keep you and your loved ones safe from scalds. Dr. Megan Garcia, Medical Director of The Grossman Burn Center at Research Medical Center

Burns are one of the leading causes of trauma nationwide. Younger children are more likely to sustain injuries from scald burns that are caused by hot liquids or steam, while older children are more likely to sustain injuries from flame burns that are caused by direct contact with fire. (cdc.org) More than 73% of burn injuries occur in the home. Learn how to keep your family safe as you balance work and play within the home. (ABA)

Below are some helpful resources to learn more about burn safety & prevention:

Cooking Safety

As we cook at home more and eat out less, let’s remember the importance of cooking safety to reduce fires and burns.

National Fire Protection Association

FACTS

Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home* fires and fire injuries, causing 49% of home fires that resulted in 21% of the home fire deaths and 45% of the injuries.
Two-thirds (66%) of home cooking fires start with the ignition of food or other cooking materials.
Clothing is the item first ignited in less than 1% of these fires, but clothing ignitions lead to 14% of the home cooking equipment fire deaths.
Ranges or cooktops account for almost two-thirds (62%) of home cooking fire incidents.
Unattended equipment is a factor in one-third (31%) of reported home cooking fires and half (48%) of the associated deaths.
Frying dominates the cooking fire problem.
Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve

Spanish Resources

Child Care During COVID-19

As parents work to balance work priorities with their child's virtual or in-person learning needs, here are some resources to help find support:

Note- In the May issue of Injury Prevention Across North Carolina, there was an article about a Trauma Survivors Network which highlighted a trauma survivor named Pat. Unfortunately, we have since learned of Pat's passing prior to that article. The Injury Prevention Coordinators from across NC would like to apologize to Pat's family and send our condolences for their loss.

REGIONAL INFORMATION