National Public Health Week – Injury Prevention begins at HOME

April 4, 2011

The West Central Health District is pleased to celebrate National Public Health Week, which is sponsored by the American Public Health Association. National Public Health Week will be held April 4-10, 2011 and seeks to educate the public, policy-makers and public health professionals about issues important to improving public health. This year’s theme is “Safety is No Accident:  Live Injury Free.”

In observance of National Public Health Week, on Monday April 4th, the West Central Health District would like to remind the public that injury prevention starts at home.  Recent health data indicates that:

  • Four out of five U.S. fire deaths in 2008 occurred in the home and that falls are the leading cause of injury death among those ages 65 and older.
  • More than one third of adults 65 years of age and older fall each year.
  • Every day in the U.S., about 82 people die as a result of unintentional poisoning, and another 2,000 are treated in emergency departments

The health department urges the community to take a few minutes today to look around each room of their house and fix anything that may be a potential hazard in their home.  Some suggested things to look for and check on:

  • Pick up any children’s toys or other items on the floor that may be a tripping hazard. 
  • Be sure that smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are installed and maintained in your home.
  • Make sure all electrical outlets are covered and inaccessible to children.
  • Supervise young children whenever they’re near cooking surfaces and never leave food unattended on the stove.
  • Program emergency numbers, such as the Poison Control Hotline (1-800-222-1222), into your phone to call in the event of a poisoning emergency.
  • Store cleaning supplies and medicines in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.
  • Check your hot water heater periodically and adjust the thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or lower to avoid burns.

For more information on things you can do to prevent injuries in your home visit our website at www.columbushealth.com.