• A Role in Prevention
• Some Thoughts to Start
• Injury Prevention Sites, Tools & Programs
• PHTLS Injury Prevention Programs 

WHO Traumatic Injury-2000, Press Release , "The Global Burden of Injury" & Appendices , The Injury Chartbook (posted May 20th, 2003)

It is a recognized precept that the term "accident" is a misnomer and that injuries are preventable. While the stated purpose of PHTLS is to provide the prehospital provider with the tools to enable effective trauma management to begin at the scene, PHTLS is also cognizant that prevention can be responsible to alleviate the burden of traumatic injury amongst the masses.

As EMS providers, we may hold the most effective positions with which to place at the forefront of the preventative field. We have, after all, seen the consequences of traumatic injury. And whom better to educate those groups most afflicted by trauma, than the very people who serve to provide initial care.

There are many ways that you can become involved in the prevention movement. We hope that this page will provide you with some of the tools that can help facilitate your interest in a particular area. Or at the very least, give you some ideas as to where to begin.

Some thoughts to start:

• Get involved in safety programmes. There are multitude of organizations that provide effective presentations and packages to promote injury awareness, targeted to a specific group or injury.
• See a gap in what is currently available? Develop your own. Or find one to adapt and amend to suit the needs in your area.
• Get your department involved. They may already have an effective forum from which to offer the prevention message. Encourage participation. Many hands are better than few.
• Offer your own talents. Be a volunteer.
• Wear the gear. Walk the walk. Be an example and a mentor.
• Get involved in safety product testing, fitting, or just be part of a force that ensures that manufacturer compliance and responsibility is maintained.
• Become politically involved. Make your voice heard. The squeaky wheel does make a difference.
• Educate. Educate. Educate

You input is valuable so please feel free to contribute, whether with ideas or links to further educational tools.

Injury Prevention Sites, Tools & Programs

• Alberta Center for Injury Control & Research : This site is chock full of good information, statistical references and injury prevention programs. Some of which include (in .pdf format):
  • "AMA School Safety Patrol" - School pedestrian safety
  • "Drinking Decisions" - Early intervention for problem drinkers
  • "Farm Safety 4 Just Kids" - Farm safety geared for children
  • "Heads Up: Head Injury and Trauma in Sport" - Head injury prevention in hockey and ringette
  • "HEROES" - Youth injury prevention and risk management
  • "Learn Not to Burn" - Fire and burn prevention school program
  • "MADD" - Impaired driving
  • "Mission Possible @ Work" - Traffic injury prevention - workplace program
  • "Nobody's Perfect" - Family life, parenting, injury prevention
  • "Operation Red Nose" - Drinking and driving
  • "PAID/REID" - Impaired driving
  • "PARTY" - Teen injury prevention
  • "Risk Watch" - Injury prevention school curriculum
  • "Rural Family Health and Safety Program" - Rural safety day camp program
  • "Safe and Caring Schools" - School violence, disrespectful and disruptive behavior in the classroom, character development
  • "Safe Communities (International Network)"
  • "Safety Guidelines for Physical Activity in Alberta Schools" - Preventing injuries in school physical activities
  • "Steady As You Go" - Fall prevention for seniors
  • "Stupid Line" - Teens risk management
  • "Think First" - Neurotrauma prevention for youth
  • "Think, Think Again" - Child passenger restraints education/enforcement
  • "When Choices Collide" - Youth and impaired driving
  • "Yellow Ribbon Program" - Suicide prevention and awareness
• American Association for the Surgery of Trauma-Prevention Page This site has some excellent resources for injury prevention, including statistical data links.
  • 10 Steps to developing an Injury Awareness Program
• American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence Excellent information on domestic violence, especially legalities.
  • Domestic Violence training materials
  • Teaching notes & resources to access
• American Burn Association
  • Educators Guide
  • Powerpoint Presentation
  • Public Education Materials
  • Additional Resources offered
• American Trauma Society
  • Safety Awareness game for Children
  • Traumaroo Childhood Safety program
• Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. Des Plaines, Illinois 847.390.8927
• Australia National Injury Surveillance Unit A good collection of injury information, including case studies and statistics. Also on-line access to an "Injury Issues" newsletter that covers current issues.
• Children's Safety Network This site contains good information. It also holds a link library of injury resources available by State. Take a look to see what is available in your area.
  • State Resources
• Harborview Injury Prevention and Resource Center
  • Resources available for Bike Helmets & Safety, Baby Walkers, Booster Seats and Handgun Safe Storage
• Injury Control of Western Australia
• Injury Control Resource Information Network A good site if you feel like surfing. Lots of links to choose from.
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Statistical and practical data. Has some good resources available for a fee.
  • Video Resources
  • Teacher's Guide for "Understanding Car Crashes: It's Basic Physics - downloadable .pdf includes lesson plans and student activity sheets (associated video available under video resources)
• John Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy
• Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center
  • ROPS Program Real video streamers and a .pdf for Tractor Roll Over Protection Systems
  • Manuscripts, presentations & posters
• Monash University Accident Research Center An Australian site with good statistical info, including OH&S publications in .pdf formats
• National Center for Injury Prevention and Control A good site chock full of information, many of which are available in .pdf format
  • Guide to Applying for Injury Research Grants
  • Recommended Framework for Presenting Injury Mortality Data
  • Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: A Report to Congress
  • A tool Kit to Prevent Senior Falls, 1999
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Bicycle Safety Resource Guide on CD ROM
  • Child Passenger Safety Training Programmes
  • Traffic Safety Materials Catalogue
• National Pediatric Trauma Registry
  • Injury Facts from NPTR
• National Program for Playground Safety
  • Playground Safety & Prevention Resource Listing
• National Safe Kids Campaign
  • Safe Kids Resource Catalogue
• Pacific Center for Violence Prevention A site with good general information on violence prevention
• Stop Red Light Running
• Trauma Foundation at San Francisco General Hospital One of the best sites I found for links
  • Training Programme for bicycle safety information
  • Bicycle Safety Links
  • Firearms Safety Links
    • International Gun Violence Prevention
  • Fire & Burn Injury Safety Links
  • Fire Safe Cigarettes Links
  • Motorcycle Helmet Links
• Trauma Intervention Program
• United States Consumer Products Safety Commission
• University of Iowa Injury Prevention and Research Center
• University of North Carolina-Injury Prevention Research Center
  • VINCENT An on-line course with materials "Getting Started in Injury Control and Violence Prevention"
• University of Otago New Zealand Injury Prevention Research Unit
  • Publications Database
• University of Pittsburgh-Center for Injury Research & Control
  • Archive of seminars and powerpt files dealing with "The Science and Practice of Injury Control"
• WHO Dept. of Injury & Violence Prevention
  • Injury Prevention at WHO
  • Unintentional Injuries Prevention
  • Prevention of Violence 
    

PHTLS Injury Prevention Programs:

• PHTLS Injury Prevention Powerpoint Program