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Injury Prevention in the News
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Children's Safety Network Releases 2016 Injury Data Fact Sheets
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The Children’s Safety Network (CSN) has posted state-by-state injury data fact sheets for 2016 with analyses of childhood injury fatalities and hospitalizations, and each sheet has a rich compilation of timely, pertinent information for injury prevention stakeholders and practitioners.
To see Nebraska's 2016 fact sheet click
here
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Seat Belt Use Reaches Historic High
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Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
Law enforcement agencies across the state will be participating in
Drive Sober or Get Pulled a selective overtime enforcement activity. This selective enforcement will take place December 19 through January 1. The
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is a national campaign through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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It's that time of the year again. With so many new toys on the market, it's easy for parents to forget toy safety in the rush to finish holiday shopping. The good news is that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have already prevented many unsafe toys from hitting the shelves and toy recalls have dramatically declined overall. Unfortunately, many toys can still be dangerous when used improperly or by younger children. For materials on toy safety, visit the
Children's Safety Network website.
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Nebraska Child Passenger Safety Technician Update/Training
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nebraska Innovation Campus
2021 Transformation Dr. Lincoln, NE 68508
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Motor Vehicle Safety Resources for Tribal Communities
American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) have the highest motor vehicle-related death rates of all racial and ethnic groups, with rates two to three times greater than the rates of other Americans. The following resources can help equip tribal communities to apply motor vehicle injury prevention programs that effectively increase child safety seat use, increase seat belt use, and decrease alcohol-impaired driving.
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Public Health Strategies for Motor Vehicle Safety
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The
Public Health Strategies for Motor Vehicle Safety guides summarize evidence-based findings and recommendations addressing programs, services, and policies from research studies and national traffic safety organizations.
These guides are designed to act as a resource for those interested in traffic safety. Implementing these evidence-based strategies will help achieve the goal of Toward Zero Deaths in Nebraska. The topics currently covered are child passenger safety, teen driver safety, seat belt use, motorcycle safety and distracted driving.
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"Winterize" To Prevent Falls
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Here are some steps you can take today to reduce falls among older adults in your community.
"Winterize" shoes, boots, and assistive devices
- Choose winter shoes with rubber soles to maintain traction on slippery surfaces
- Attach an ice gripper cane tip to penetrate the ice and secure a firm grip
Carry kitty litter for slick surfaces
- Encourage older adults to carry a zip top bag filled with a lightweight kitty litter in their pocket and cast it out ahead of themselves on slick surfaces
Screen older adults for fall risk
- Health care providers: begin to check ALL older adults with the STEADI fall risk screening tool
Give the gift of fall prevention
- Encourage adult children to give fall-proofing holiday gifts to their parents
Help make this season a safe, warm, and wonderful one for your patients, family, and community!
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CDC Fall Reduction Tips
- Ask your doctor how to prevent falls and tell him or her if you have fallen recently.
- Be sure your doctor knows all the medications you take
- Have your eyes checked at least once a year and be sure you use an up-to-date eyeglass prescription.
- Stay active and take part in programs to boost your strength and balance, such a s Tai Chi.
- Remove all trip and fall hazards in your home.
Visit the CDC page for more information about older adult falls
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Study of Brain Injury to Better Determine Cause and Effect
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Researchers at John Hopkins University have been developing methods of detecting a brain injury in living subjects to determine a better cause and effect.
"The exciting part of our new findings is that we now believe we have a useful tool to monitor the brains of NFL players and athletes in other contact sports," says Jennifer Coughlin, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins. "We can measure TSPO, a PET biomarker of brain injury, in these younger players, and we can now begin to follow it over time to see if the brain is repairing itself or not."
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A
story of two football players and two different decisions to stay or leave the game of football due to a concussion.
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Prescription Drug Overdose
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GET YOUR HOME HOLIDAY RxEADY
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The holiday season is around the corner. With family coming into town make sure your medications are secure. Your medications can easily fall into the wrong hands resulting in drug misuse or accidental poisoning. According to the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, "the vast majority of teens abusing prescription drugs are getting them from the medicine cabinets of friends, family and acquaintances." Do your part to prevent drug abuse and accidental poisoning and take back your unused, expired, or leftover medications to one of the nearly 300 pharmacies across the state participating in the Nebraska MEDS initiative.
The Nebraska MEDS initiative educates Nebraskans about drug disposal and provides safe ways to dispose of medications to better protect public health and safeguard the environment. Pharmacies participating in the initiative can safely dispose of medications year-round, preventing them from falling into the wrong hands and keeping them out of our waterways. Go to www.nebraskameds.org or call the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 to find a participating pharmacy near you.
Since August 2012, over 33,000 pounds of medication have been collected by Nebraska pharmacies for proper disposal. Be part of the solution and take back your leftovers before the holiday season.
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State Polices Reduce Opioid Overdoses
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According to
Health Affairs research findings, certain state policies to reduce inappropriate prescribing significantly reduced amounts prescribed and prescription opioid death rates during 2006-2013. The 38 state study revealed that combined implementation of mandate provider review of state-run prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data and pain clinic laws reduced amounts of opioids prescribed by 8 percent and overdose deaths by 12%.
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Injury Prevention Focuses on Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention
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Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning can results from faulty furnaces or other health appliance, portable generators, water heaters, clothes dryers or cars left running in the garage. It’s a silent killer that permeates the home or apartment without landlords, residents, or property managers even knowing it until it’s too late. Carbon Monoxide has no color, smell, or taste and produces symptoms often mistake for the flu. The gas can induce sleepiness, headaches, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, shortness of breath, or ultimately death. At its worse, carbon monoxide can cause severe side effects or even death. Over 10,000 are poised by carbon monoxide needing medical treatment each year, over 500 people in the US die annually from the poisoning.
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Due to high numbers of illness and death, state legislatures have implemented law that mandate the use of carbon monoxide detectors. In Nebraska, the Carbon Monoxide Safety Act requires any dwelling with a fuel-fired heater, fireplace or attached garage have a carbon monoxide alarm installed on each floor or in a location required by the building code. Currently, CO detectors are not mandated in schools, hotels or motels. Local governments may adopt more stringent provisions for the installation and maintenance of carbon monoxide alarms. According to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center, CO calls have shown a 13% increase between 2014- 2015. During that year the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Nebraska as one of the states with the highest mortality rate from carbon monoxide. The Nebraska Legislature passed a bill in 2015 that requires carbon monoxide detectors be installed when homes are sold, rented or significantly renovated. The new law goes into effect January 1st, 2017.
For more information regarding opportunities for Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention in your area or for further questions, contact Crystal Dailey RN – Trauma Nurse Specialist @ 402-722-4300 or crystal.dailey@nebraska.gov
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The Nebraska Statewide Trauma System wants to prevent you from becoming a statistic of motor vehicle crashes. Be smart and do your part to be a responsible driver this holiday season. For more information about the Nebraska Statewide Trauma System or for questions please contact: Crystal Dailey RN, BSN, Trauma Nurse Specialist, DHHS EMS/Trauma Program at crystal.dailey@nebraska.gov or 402-722-4300.
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Safety Observances
November 1, 2016- January 1, 2017
December
December
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Peg Ogea-Ginsburg, MA
Injury Prevention Program Coordinator
Jason Kerkman, MPH
Safe Kids Nebraska Coordinator
Amy Reynoldson
Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator
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Jeanne Bietz, MA Motor Vehicle Policy Grant Project Coordinator jeanne.bietz@nebraska.gov
Ashley Newmyer, MPH, CPH
Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator
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Injury Prevention and Control E-News is a monthly newsletter distributed to partners of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Injury Prevention and Control Program.
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Email DHHS.injury@nebraska.gov with any suggestions or feedback.
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