emphasis on avoidable injury
The East Midlands Avoidable Injury Strategy:
Promoting a Safer East Midlands
Accidents are a major cause of death and serious injury but they are avoidable. Here in the East Midlands we have a relatively poor accident record compared to the national average and to the other English regions. The regional health strategy, Investment for Health, recognises that reducing the number and severity of accidental injuries is one of our key public health challenges.
The impact of accidents affects not only the injured individual but those who are required to care for them, those agencies who have to respond and treat them and their employers – it is estimated that nationally 7 million working days were lost in 2004-05 because of accidents.
Promoting safety is the responsibility of us all as individuals. But many of us have a professional responsibility too. The fire and rescue services are one example. All too often they have to deal with the consequences of an accident, but they have a role also in providing safety education. That is why we are pleased to offer a lead for the East Midlands in developing this strategy and the action plan included at Annex A to reduce the number and impact of accidents on the region’s population.
There is a body of evidence to show that many accidents are preventable and the impact of those that do occur can be reduced. Often simple interventions and common sense behaviour can ensure that our environment is safer for us and for those around us. For example, a hand rail on a staircase or a properly fitted carpet can prevent an elderly person falling in their home.
This document summarises the main points of that evidence and signposts you to further sources of information and advice. It has been developed through widespread consultation.
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East Midlands avoidable injury strategy [Adobe Acrobat file: 380Kb] |
