Injury Prevention Across North Carolina

Presented by NC Trauma Centers

Newsletter | August 2022 | Vol 3 Issue 3

Injury Prevention Information

The Injury Prevention Newsletter is created by Injury Prevention professionals from trauma centers 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 relevant to the current season and forecast. The August 2022 edition will focus on the many monthly injury prevention awareness topics taking place over the end of summer and fall months, including back to school safety. Click the links for information on several awareness campaigns, substance use and injury, falls prevention, hurricane preparedness, and resources in Spanish. Also check out the State Trauma Advisory Committee's Injury Prevention social media pages!

State Trauma Advisory Committee Injury Prevention Social Media Pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stac.ipnc/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/injurypreventionnc/

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August Back to School Safety Campaigns

August signifies the beginning of a new school year! Here are some safety topics to discuss as the first day of school approaches.

Pedestrian and school bus safety
Bullying prevention
Discussing school shootings

School Bus Safety

Make sure your child knows their address, phone number, and bus stop location
Wait for the bus at least 3 giant steps (6 feet) from the curb
Avoid running and horseplay at the bus stop
Wait for the bus to make a complete stop before approaching the door
Avoid walking behind the bus, cross the street in front of the bus or walk along the sidewalk

Drivers!! Always stop when a school bus is stopped with its flashing red lights and stop sign! This means kids are entering or exiting the bus and may be crossing the street!!

Visit NHTSA or Vision Zero to learn more about school bus safety

Pedestrian Safety.

Always pay attention when walking near a busy street-put cell phones and distractions away!
Cross at cross walks when the light says its ok to cross
Wear light or reflective clothing to be sure to be seen by drivers
Pedestrians have the right of way-but still look out for drivers
Use sidewalks when available

For more visit Safe Kids or Vision Zero.

Bullying at School

Being bullied is no fun, whether it is happening in person or online. Parents can support their kids by having conversations about safety at school: Learn how to respond to bullies, how to prevent bullying, and how to talk about it at www.stopbullying.gov or www.unicef.org

School Shootings

No one wants to think about the worst case scenario happening at their kids school, but in our current climate - school shootings happen.

Although school shootings are rare, they can be very scary for kids and parents. They can cause anxiety in children, but talking to your kids about their fears can help reduce anxiety.

To learn how and why we should talk to kids about school shootings, visit Child Mind Institute or Yale Medicine

Substance Use, Stress, and Injury

Links between stress, trauma, and substance use, and the choices we make that lead to trauma and injury:

Trauma can lead to chronic stress, which can make people more vulnerable to addictive behaviors and substance use. Risks for injury increase with alcohol or drug use, as inhibitions go down and risky behaviors go up. Understanding how past traumas - whether physical or emotion - affect daily life and decisions is important in preventing injury of self or a loved one. No one wants to hurt another person, but when we make decisions under the influence - like driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated - we risk that chance.

To learn more about trauma and addiction, read Psychology Today and Women's Recovery

To read about PTS, click Post-Traumatic Stress and language surrounding addiction.

Fall Prevention Awareness Month-September

September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month, and this year, the NC Falls Prevention Coalition is working to improve access to falls prevention resources and referrals. They've developed a brief survey and a tool for clinical providers and community-based groups to use and provide feedback on through September.

They survey will provide insight into referral processes already in place and what improvements and support are needed. It will take less than 5 minutes to complete. Click here for the survey.

The Rx Falls Tool was developed utilizing the STEADI Algorithm for Fall Risk Screening, Assessment, and Intervention. The form is designed to allow providers to check boxes for home safety, specific programs, or general referrals to falls prevention programming.

Please share this survey and feel free to start using the tool now. Falls Prevention Awareness Week is September 18-24, and the survey closes on September 30.

https://ncfallsprevention.org/rx-for-falls/

Hurricane and Disaster Preparedness

As we reach peak hurricane season (August through October), we want to make sure you know what to do if a natural disaster strikes.

Living in Coastal Carolina, you may be used to hurricanes, but that does not mean that you should not prepare. If an order to evacuate is advised, evacuate immediately! Follow evacuation routes, find higher ground to avoid getting stuck in a flood, and only pack essentials.

To prepare: Have an emergency kit that has enough food and water for three days, any necessary medical supplies, including medications, baby/child supplies, and/or pet supplies, as well as a first aid kit, flashlight and batteries, and a radio to contact help is cellular reception goes out.

NEVER try to walk, swim, or drive through flood waters! TURN AROUND, DON'T DROWN!!

Visit redcross.org and ready.gov to learn how to prepare.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence affects all ages, races, genders, and communities. Physical violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse, and stalking threaten intimate partners every day. Every 15 seconds, someone is affected by domestic violence, affecting more than just the individual. Children and families often live in fear and are put at risk daily.

Bringing awareness to the effects of domestic violence on individuals, families, and communities is important in ending the violence. To learn more about Domestic Violence Awareness month, visit domesticviolence.org. If you need help or resources to get out of an abusive relationship, visit thehotline.org. To talk to kids about healthy relationships, visit loveisrespect.org.

HOT TOPIC!!

August 9th celebrated International Indigenous Peoples Day!

What is "indigenous" you ask? Indigenous is "of or relating to the earliest known inhabitants of a place and especially a place that was colonized by a now-dominant group." In the US, and North Carolina, indigenous refers to Native Americans, such as the Cherokee, Lumbee, or other American Indian Nations.

Globally, there are "over 476 million indigenous people living in 90 countries across the world" (UN.org). Indigenous cultures provide the world with knowledge, traditions, and diverse concepts that offer different vantage points on life and the ways we cultivate our lands and nations.

However, indigenous people often experience disparities in access to healthcare, have higher rates of injury and disease, and have less resources available to improve health and safety. In the US, Native American's are three times more likely to experience violence, twice as likely to be injured or die from a motor vehicle collision, and four times more likely to commit suicide (IHS.gov). Learn more about International Indigenous People and Indigenous Health