National Data Highlights Importance of Injury Prevention Work

When a Nova Scotian is injured, it can lead to hospitalizations, disabilities and death.

However, a new report shows Nova Scotians lose fewer years of their lives to injury than most other provinces in the country, and injury costs Nova Scotia less than the national average.

The report, released today, Aug. 18, by SMARTRISK, captures the economic burden of injury to provinces in 2004. It includes the economic costs associated with health care and lost productivity.

"Injury takes a significant toll, not just on the health-care system, but on the lives of its victims, their families and their communities," said Julian Young, injury prevention and control co-ordinator, Health Promotion and Protection. "We know very few injuries are accidents -- they're preventable. That's why we've put a strategy in place to reduce the number of preventable injuries that can devastate Nova Scotians."

Each year, an average of 425 Nova Scotians are killed by injuries. Almost all are preventable.

Nova Scotians are most often injured in three ways: falls by the elderly, motor vehicle collisions and suicide. Children and youth are particularly vulnerable to injury. According to research by Health Promotion and Protection, a Nova Scotian, age one to 25, dies from an injury each week.

The report points out that, in 2004, Nova Scotians had the highest death rate from falls in the country. Since then, the province has worked with seniors, health-care professionals, caregivers and community, seniors and recreation organizations to help prevent and reduce falls.

South Shore Health, a partner in the province's Falls Reduction Strategy, has seen a reduction in the number of injuries from falls since it started focusing on ways to help seniors prevent them.

"Falls have a huge impact on health and quality of life," said Alice Leverman, acting CEO of South Shore Health. "Many seniors injured during a fall lose mobility and independence, and experience an overall decline in health that may even result in death.

"Falls prevention efforts can help seniors maintain their independence and avoid this traumatic injury. We are pleased to be working with the province and others to prevent falls."

In 2004, Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province with a government-led and funded injury prevention strategy. It was identified by the World Health Organization as a model approach to prevent injuries.

Since then, Health Promotion and Protection has invested $4.5 million in injury prevention, which includes:

• new policies on helmet use and car/booster seat safety
• new research on key issues such as suicide prevention, child and youth injury, seniors' falls, and motor vehicle collisions
• funding for organizations and partnerships such as Injury Free Nova Scotia, Child Safety Link, Atlantic Canada Injury Prevention, and the Canadian Mental Health Association's work in communities.

Other report highlights include:

• Nova Scotia was among the provinces with the least years of life lost at 953.4 years, below the national average of 986.6.
• The total economic burden of injury in Nova Scotia in 2004 was $518 million. Injury costs every Nova Scotian $552 per year, one of the lowest costs per capita in Canada.
• Unintentional injuries accounted for 83 per cent of the total cost of injuries ($423 million).

To read the entire report, visit www.smartrisk.ca. To learn more about injury prevention in Nova Scotia, visit www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdip/injury_prevention.asp .