Province Supports National Injury Prevention Strategy

A proposed national injury prevention strategy mirrors and strengthens Nova Scotia's existing injury prevention efforts.

The national strategy, which was released today, Oct. 25, was developed by injury prevention groups across the country as well as the insurance industry. The overall goals of the strategy focus on saving lives, reducing health-care expenditures and educating the public on how to prevent injuries. These goals reinforce the work already underway in Nova Scotia.

"There is enormous potential across Canada to improve the health of Canadians and reduce the drain on our health-care system," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Nova Scotia supports the development and implementation of a comprehensive, nationally co-ordinated approach to preventing injuries."

About 450 Nova Scotians die every year as a result of injuries. Emergency rooms treat as many as 350,000 injuries and more than 6,000 people are hospitalized each year. The annual cost of treating injuries in Nova Scotia is $570 million.

Nova Scotia has the country's only provincially supported and funded injury prevention strategy. Input from Nova Scotia injury prevention groups was included in the development of the proposed national strategy.

The provincial strategy was announced in 2003. Since that time nearly $1 million has been invested in implementing the strategy. This includes funding to address the prevention of falls, motor-vehicle crashes and self-inflicted injuries.

As part of its strategy, Nova Scotia Health Promotion is working with partners to develop and implement an injury surveillance strategy and a road-safety social marketing strategy. It is also working with communities to develop injury prevention programs and resources, and delivers the Canadian injury prevention and control curriculum within communities.