Did You Know?
In Canada, unintentional injuries are a significant “public health” concern, ranking as the leading cause of death for people aged 1 to 44. Despite how serious this is, many people don’t realize how big the problem actually is.
Parachute: Canada’s National Leader In Injury Prevention
According to Parachute, while Canada has made strides in reducing injury rates over the last two decades, deaths and hospitalizations from falls and unintentional poisonings are still climbing. Today, injury remains the nation’s most pressing “public health” challenge, placing an immense and growing burden on the healthcare system and vital public resources.
In addition, Parachute’s injury prevention 2024-2028 strategic plan lays out a course to address the fact that injury prevention remains a low priority in Canada with little attention and action directed at it, even though it touches every person in our country to some degree.
Advocating For The Vulnerable
The burden of fatal injury falls heaviest on those least able to bear it: our children, our seniors, and those sidelined by discrimination or poverty. We must call upon every stakeholder to center their efforts on safeguarding these communities and ensuring safety is accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
Preventable Injuries Are Stretching Our Resources
Preventable injuries place an immense strain on Canada’s healthcare system and its frontline workers. This pressure extends to emergency responders and 9-1-1 dispatchers, who are already grappling with an unprecedented staffing crisis. These shortages do more than just jeopardize community safety; they severely impact the physical and mental well-being of the professionals dedicated to protecting them.
Redefining Public Health: Beyond Diseases
When most people hear the term “public health,” they immediately think of doctors, nutritionists, or vaccine clinics. While disease prevention and dental health are vital components, “public health” is a much broader field that includes the prevention of avoidable injuries. Additionally, “public health” is not just the responsibility of health units and epidemiologists; it is a collaborative effort involving diverse sectors, stakeholders, and community members such as:
- Infrastructure & Safety: Professional engineers and building inspectors work in tandem to maintain public safety; engineers guarantee structural integrity, while inspectors ensure strict adherence to building codes.
- Emergency Services: Paramedics, police officers, and fire service personnel provide essential community safety programs and public education.
- Prevention & Oversight: Fire Prevention Officers “inspect to correct” and enforce fire safety codes, conduct fire drills, as well as assist in Fire Safety Plan development by reviewing plans etc. to proactively manage risk. As well, Occupational Health and Safety Inspectors conduct proactive and reactive workplace visits.
- Policy & Law: Politicians shape “public health” by supporting modern product regulations and updating building and fire codes. NOTE: To date, there are still new buildings being built that do not require an automatic sprinkler system as per the relevant Building Code of the day … due to its size in square metres.
- Safety Coalitions: Collaborative groups united to improve safety in specific areas within their communities.
In short, anyone working to make our overall physical environment safer is contributing to “public health” just as much as those studying infectious diseases.
Remember, taking the time to learn and practice injury prevention costs you nothing. Failing to do so, could lead to the unthinkable … the loss of your life and the lives of those you hold dear.
Safety—it starts with you.
