Presented by NC Trauma Centers
Newsletter | February 2021 | Vol 1 Issue 5
Injury Prevention Topics by Awareness Week/Month
The Injury Prevention Newsletter is created by Injury Prevention Coordinators from the trauma centers across the state of North Carolina to bring resources to North Carolinians about injury prevention. The quarterly interactive newsletter will cover many injury prevention topics. Our fifth edition is focused on the various injury prevention awareness events taking place in the coming months. Click the links for information on fire/burn prevention, poison prevention, child abuse/sexual assault awareness, & distracted driving.
February: Fire/Burn Awareness
This year the American Burn Association is focusing on electrical safety for National Burn Awareness Week. Electric burns are different from a burn from fire or chemicals. Sometimes they are not visible from the outside but on the inside of the body it can cause major damage. 

Make sure that appliances and cords are all in good condition to prevent electrical burns and shocks and never use an appliance near water.


March: Poison Prevention
According to Safe Kids NC, more than 50% of calls to national poison centers involve children under the age of 6, and more than 64,000 children are treated in emergency departments due to accidental medication exposure or overdose each year. Keeping unused or expired medications out of the wrong hands is crucial.

Steps to keep your prescriptions where they belong:
  • Safe storage - lock up medications and buy child-resistant packages
  • Safe dosing - don’t give multiple doses with the same active ingredient and don’t give adult medications to children
  • Safe disposal - properly dispose of medications at a Take-Back event or Permanent Drop-Box location 
  • Safe seniors - grandparents should request child-resistant bottles and store medications in a locked location and out of sight and reach of children
Operation Medicine Drop
Since Operation Medicine Drop was established in 2010, more than 105 million prescription and over-the-counter pills have been safely disposed of statewide.
To find a permanent drop box to dispose of expired/unused medication in your community, visit ncdoi.net
are committed to liquid laundry packet safety. This video shares the importance of child resistant tubs and safe storage.
April: Child Abuse Prevention Month
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to act collectively to raise awareness and empower people across the nation to play a role in making great childhoods happen. And our efforts to raise awareness and engagement and impact positive change this year are as vital as ever.

COVID-19, has changed our world dramatically—and rapidly. Although the risk to our children’s physical health from the outbreak itself appears to be low…the risk to our nation’s children for experiencing child abuse and neglect in times of extreme stress and uncertainty is actually quite high.

Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina promotes four evidence-based/informed models that support parents in positively connecting with their children and seeking help when needed.
  • Circle of Parents: Support group model grounded in parent leadership, providing a space where anyone in a parenting role can come together to openly discuss successes and challenges of raising children.
  • Incredible Years: Group-based, collaborative approach to prevent and treat young children’s behavior problem and promote their social, emotional and academic competence.
  • Strengthening Families Program: Family skills training program where parents and children attend weekly classes together to increase parenting skills, social/emotional development of children, and overall family resilience.
  • Triple P: Multiple levels of programming designed to give parents practical strategies for building strong healthy relationships while confidently managing their children’s behavior.

These programs are available typically at no cost and some virtually now. PCANC also offers online self-guided courses, like Recognizing & Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and What is Prevention? Contact PCANC for more info.
April: Sexual Assault Awareness Month
April 2021 marks the official 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Even before its official declaration, SAAM was about both awareness and prevention of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse. Click here for more.

There are a variety of ways to get involved in spreading awareness, including many virtual options. The National Sexual Violence Resource Center shares SAAM resources here, including social media guidance, keeping kids safe online, and survivor resources.

For a whole pave of online community prevention tips and tools, click here.

To find you local rape crisis center with resources to support survivors of sexual assault and their loved ones, visit the NC Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
April: Distracted Driving Awareness Month
NC Vision Zero: https://ncvisionzero.org
Distracted driving is the scourge of trauma programs across the world. It's not just our teens that struggle with distractions while driving, our adult populations struggle as well. There are community groups dedicated to injury prevention across North Carolina which help spread the message that safety must be a priority. NC Families for Safe Streets (NCFSS) is a group of NC families affected by traffic violence that is working together to pass life-saving policies in our state. This year, NCFSS is working to get Hands Free NC passed- a bill that would make it illegal to use a handheld device while driving. If you want to join the in their efforts, please contact: Tracy Anderson at ncfamiliesforsafetstreets@gmail.com

REGIONAL INFORMATION
The Injury Prevention Across North Carolina Newsletter is presented by NC Trauma Centers, including:
ATRIUM HEALTH
CLEVELAND
Jessica Crawford, RN
Trauma Prevention Specialist
980-487-3826

BRENNER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PEDIATRIC TRAUMA CENTER
WAKE FOREST BAPTIST HEALTH
Hayluri (Luly) Beckles MS, CPS-T
Pediatric Injury Prevention Coordinator
336-716-0649

DUKE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
TRAUMA CENTER
Tricia Smar, MSW, CHES
Injury Prevention Coordinator
919-943-0841

NOVANT HEALTH PMC
Kelly Moriarty, RN
Trauma and Injury Prevention Coordinator
704-258-3287 (cell) 704-384-9761 (office)  

UNC TRAUMA CENTER
Lindsay Bailey, MPH
Injury Prevention Coordinator
984-974-2437

VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER
Sue Anne Fipps Pilgreen, MSN, RN, CPN
Program Manager, Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program
252-847-8668

MOSES CONE HOSPITAL
TRAUMA CENTER
Leigha Jordan, M.S.
Injury Prevention Coordinator
336-832-3939


MISSION HEALTH
Tracey Gates, RN, CEN, CPEN
Outreach and Injury Prevention Coordinator
828-712-7014 (cell) 828-213-9459 (office)


TRAUMA CENTER AT NEW HANOVER MEDICAL CENTER
Meredith Spell, RN, BSN
Injury & Violence Prevention Coordinator
910-524-0690 (cell) 910-667-7902 (office)


WAKEMED HEALTH & HOSPITALS TRAUMA SERVICE
Christina Carmichael
Injury Prevention Representative
919-350-8364


WAKE FOREST BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER
Shawn Griffin, RN, BSN
Trauma/Burn Outreach Coordinator
336-716-0685