Injury Prevention Program Newsletter

Wyoming Department of Health

Injury Prevention Program

A safer Wyoming free from injury and violence.

December Newsletter

In the News

Bill to Simplify National Suicide Hotline Could Bring Challenges

A bill moving through Congress aims to simplify the national suicide hotline — a move that advocates say is necessary. But with that could come an increased call volume at crisis centers, and those same advocates caution additional funding will be needed to handle all the calls at money-strapped crisis centers. Continue reading here.

Older Drivers: 7 Tips for Driver Safety

Driver safety requires more than understanding road signs and traffic laws. As you get older, you'll likely notice physical changes that can make certain actions — such as turning your head to look for oncoming traffic or braking safely — more challenging. Still, older drivers can remain safe on the road. Consider seven tips for older drivers.

1. Stay physically active

Staying physically active improves your strength and flexibility. In turn, physical activity can improve driver safety by making it easier to turn the steering wheel, look over your shoulder, and make other movements while driving and parking.

Look for ways to include physical activity in your daily routine. Walking is a great choice for many people. Stretching and strength training exercises are helpful for older drivers, too. If you've been sedentary, get your doctor's OK before increasing your activity level... Continue reading here.

Observances

November 24 - December 31, 2017

Over the holiday season, the Wyoming Department of Health, Wyoming Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's want to remind Wyoming Drivers that the holiday season is one of the deadliest times of the year for impaired driving.

Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, December 4–8, 2017

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) aims to promote understanding of the importance of mobility and transportation to ensuring older adults remain active in the community—shopping, working or volunteering—with the confidence that transportation will not be the barrier to strand them at home... Click here for more information .

Avoid the Holiday Blues through Exercise

The holidays can be a joyous time of the year, but for some people the extra shopping, cooking, and preparing for visiting relatives can be overwhelming and lead to unwanted stress and depression. Exercise can help decrease the negative effects of both stress and depression. With the busy holiday schedule it may seem difficult to stick to your normal gym routine, so Centerstone Employee Assistance Program came up with a quick list on how to squeeze in exercise during the holidays. Avoid holiday blues.

Events

Coming Soon! Community Clergy Training Program: Helping Veterans Access Care and Resources

The Cheyenne VA Medical Center recently received a grant to schedule training events across Wyoming and neighboring states for the Community Clergy Training Program, which aims to educate and inform clergy and community members on how to best serve veterans and service members living in rural areas. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months! For now, check out this brochure for more about the program.

AARP Smart Driver™ Courses

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) the Wyoming Department of Health the Wyoming Department of Transportation and the National Highway Safety Administration have partnered to spread the word on the AARP Smart Driver™ courses. AARP Driver Safety, is the nation’s first and largest refresher course designed specifically for drivers age 50 and older. For more than 35 years, this six-hour course has taught over 16 million drivers proven safety strategies so they can continue driving safely for as long as possible. Upcoming course dates listed below:

AARP State Office

Monday, December 11, 2017 9:00 AM

(307) 635-2435

AARP State Office

Tuesday, December 12, 2017 9:00 AM

(307)635-2435

Casper Senior Center

Friday, January 12, 2018 9:00 AM

(307) 265-4678

Glenrock Senior Center

Saturday, January 13th, 2018 9:00 AM

(307) 436-9442

Uinta BOCES Number 1

Friday, January 19, 2018 9:00 AM

(307) 789-5742

Get Involved Locally

Preventing Falls

It is the goal of the Wyoming Injury Prevention Program to promote, encourage, support and expand the evidence based falls prevention efforts across the State of Wyoming. Currently the falls prevention efforts have centered around two CDC evidenced based Tai Chi programs. These programs are in full swing across the state with the help and support of local partners and have seen steady community participation.

For more information on these programs or to find a class being offered in your community, please contact Jamin Johnson at j amin.johnson@wyo.gov or (307) 777-2424 . In addition, if anyone participating in a Tai Chi program has a story of success or encouragement to share, please refer them to Jamin .

Upcoming Coalition Meetings

To see what coalitions are meeting in your area, check out our new calendar.

Do have an upcoming event or an article you would like us to share

in a future newsletter? Contact Lindsay Martin at lindsay.martin@wyo.gov or (307) 777-8034.