February 2011 - Posts

• New ACIP Webinar - April 4th

  ACIP will be hosting a webinar on April 4th at 2 pm Atlantic, 2:30 pm NL. Webinars are free for Atlantic Canadian injury prevention practitioners. To register for the webinar, email ACIP at jheatley@acip.ca The Impact of Alcohol Privatization on Alcohol Use and Related Harms: Lessons Learned from British Columbia Presenter: Dr. Tim Stockwell, Director of the Centre for Addictions Research BC and Professor at the University of Victoria Webinar: Dr. Tim Stockwell will present on recent research examining the public health impact of alcohol privatization in British Columbia. The study examined 20 types of alcohol-related death including injuries, suicide, strokes and cancers in 89 BC local health areas during a rapid rise in the number of private liquor stores between 2003 and 2008.   Posted Feb 23 2011, 07:32 AM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• WHO Webinars - Violence and Injury Prevention

  World experts on topics such as child injury, injury surveillance, suicide prevention, intimate partner and sexual violence and others are providing high quality, interactive lectures in a webinar format. Webinars allow for sharing information and interaction with the presenter in real time, but archived recordings are also available for those who cannot attend. Registration is free and open to everyone. For a schedule of upcoming WHO-VIP webinars, please go to: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/capacitybuilding/webinars_schedule/en/index.html Posted Feb 17 2011, 04:25 PM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• Call for a National Suicide Prevention Strategy

  Halifax MP Megan Leslie has put forth a private member's bill calling for a National Suicide Prevention Strategy, first introduced in the House of Commons in November 2010. The Act directs the Federal government to establish a national suicide prevention strategy, in consultation with the provincial, territorial, and First Nations governments. “Since introducing the bill, I have received calls and emails of support from individuals, organizations, and politicians across the country,” said Leslie. “The enormous impact suicide has on families, friends and communities is clear from the stories I’ve been hearing. There are many people out there working to prevent suicide, and we know from other countries that a coordinated national strategy would expand and strengthen their efforts.” Each day ten people die as a result of suicide in Canada, with over 3500 Canadians dying each year. It is the third leading cause of death among 25 to 49 year olds, and the second leading cause of death in the 10 to 24 age group. The suicide rate for Aboriginal youth is four to six times higher than that of non-Aboriginal Canadians. Other vulnerable groups include seniors, and lesbian, gay and transgendered individuals. Leslie is launching a campaign to build support for the bill which will include a letter, petition, postcard, and ways to participate through social media. The information and requests for endorsements will be sent to health care organizations, governments, community groups and individuals throughout the country. “I want to let people know there is a way to communicate with the federal government,” said Leslie. “The need for suicide prevention efforts at a national level is a message that must be heard and acted upon.” A Facebook page in support of a National Suicide Prevention Strategy has been set up at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/National-Suicide-Prevention-Strategy/198017713546416  Posted Feb 17 2011, 07:59 AM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• Safe Kids Week 2011 - Child Passenger Safety - May 30-June 5

  Safe Kids Canada is the national injury prevention program of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.  Each year, sponsor Johnson & Johnson and Safe Kids Canada join forces to run a major national campaign called Safe Kids Week. The Safe Kids Week campaign raises awareness about a specific type of injury, and educates the public about prevention strategies.  A different safety issue is chosen as the focus each year.  The theme of Safe Kids Week 2011 is Child Passenger Safety. To reach the campaign goals, Safe Kids Canada: Coordinates a national media awareness campaign to capture public interest on the issue and to provide public education messages. Provides support for community campaigns with downloadable educational materials and grants to assist organizations running local campaigns on the topic during Safe Kids Week. To learn more about Safe Kids Week 2011 or to access resources please go to: http://www.safekidscanada.ca/Professionals/Programs/Safe-Kids-Week/Index.aspx Posted Feb 17 2011, 07:52 AM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• Communities Addressing Suicide Together HRM Information Meetings

  Is suicide prevention important to you? Has suicide affected you or someone you know? Do you believe that something needs to be done to prevent suicide in your community? Communities Addressing Suicide Together, also known as CAST,  helps the communities of Nova Scotia come together to address suicide: prevention, intervention & postvention. Attend one of the free Information Meetings taking place in Halifax Regional Municipality to find out what the initiative is all about, what CAST can help you to bring to your community and how you can get involved. Light refreshments will be provided. 1.    Thursday March 31 @ 1:30pm Keshen Goodman Library Thomas Raddall Room Clayton Park 2.    Friday April 1 @ 1pm Musquodobit Harbour Library Program Room 3.    Monday April 4 @ 3:30pm Alderney Gate Library Helen Creighton Room Dartmouth 4.    Tuesday April 5 @ 2 pm Tantallon Library Program Room For more information or to RSVP Angela Davis, Coordinator, CAST       ` CMHA-NS Dartmouth, NS (902) 466-6600 davisacmhans@eastlink.ca Posted Feb 16 2011, 10:26 AM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• Update - Decade of Action for Road Safety

  The years 2011-2020 have been declared a Decade of Action for Road Safety. Please visit the website www.decadeofaction.org to learn more about the campaign. The international day to launch the Decade is May 11, 2011. Posted Feb 09 2011, 04:15 PM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments

• Wear It Proud - Show Us Your Helmet Hair!

  What do all helmet-wearing skiers and snowboarders have in common? They all have really bad helmet hair! Helmet use has risen dramatically over the last decade as winter athletes have become more aware of the benefits of helmet use, as well as the risks and consequences of sustaining a brain injury. In Nova Scotia, helmets are worn by 70-80% of skier s and snowboarders on the province’s three ski hills. Although pleased with the high rates of usage, the ski hill operators, in partnership with Canadian Ski Patrol and several injury prevention organizations, wanted a fun way to increase helmet wearing among those still not using helmets. As a result, the Wear It Proud campaign was developed to celebrate the official hair-do of Canadian winters – helmet hair. Wear It Proud asks Nova Scotia ski and snowboard helmet wearers to submit photos of their helmet hair to www.wearitproud.org where people can vote for the “best” worst hair. There are several great prizes for runners-up and the person with the most votes will win a ski trip to Mont Tremblant. Research has shown that helmets are highly effective at preventing head injuries to skiers and snowboarders of all ages. Traumatic brain injuries are responsible for the majority of deaths on Canadian ski hills. Survivors of brain injuries may have permanent disabilities and often face a long and difficult recovery process. However when done safely skiing and snowboarding are wonderful ways for Canadians to enjoy winter and keep active. Increasing helmet use is thus an important part of keeping skiers and snowboarders safe on the slopes and is encouraged for people of all ages on all terrain. Posted Feb 09 2011, 04:13 PM by Jennifer Heatley with no comments