Top Injury and Violence Prevention Advocates Across the Country Join Forces
While the country continues to address issues surrounding COVID-19 and the rise of deaths due to the delta variant, injuries and violence remain a major concern of healthcare professionals and community advocates. They are the number one killer and cause of hospitalization for people ages one to 44, and many are preventable with the use of safety practices, products and the implementation of strong legislative policies. That is why, the country’s top injury and violence prevention organizations are joining forces Thursday November 18, 2021, for the second annual National Injury Prevention Day.
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids®, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe States Alliance, the American Trauma Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, BeSmart a division of Everytown for Gun Safety, the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, the Trauma Centers of America Association and JPMA Cares of the Juvenile Products and Manufacturers Association take part in this effort to educate the public about the burden of injuries and violence to families and communities. Injury Free Coalition for Kids – Kansas City will be among those taking part.
“Whether it be at home, on the road or at play, precautions need to be taken,” said Barbara Barlow, MD, the Founder and Director of the Injury Free Coalition for Kids. “Children are needlessly dying. Every day, 20 children die from preventable injuries, resulting in more deaths than all diseases combined. This has to change.”
On November 18th, trauma centers and community advocates across the country will work to educate families and community leaders about ways to develop safer environments and provide many with tools to do so. Local and state government representatives will be challenged to acknowledge these concerns and make efforts to address them. At 12:00 p.m. (CST), the public is invited to take part in a live national conversation about the country’s top injury and violence concerns during a one-hour Twitter chat using the hashtag #BeInjuryFree. As the sun goes down that day, hospitals, landmarks, businesses, monuments, neighborhoods and government offices will be asked to shine a green light to raise awareness about the need for change.
Children’s Mercy Kansas City, the lead agency for Injury Free Coalition for Kids – Kansas City, is partnering with local law enforcement, fire departments, public health, child care, educators, families and other healthcare organizations to put the spotlight on the impact of firearm injuries in children and their families. The Hospital’s Council on Violence Prevention is hosting a “Lunch and Learn” on November 10th to describe the impact of firearm injuries in Kansas City’s children and the risk of firearms in the homes of teens and others who are at risk of suicide attempts. The presenters are Kristyn Jefferies, MD and Shayla Sullivant MD from Children's Mercy. The City of Kansas City is offering a video recording of their interview with Samuel Dillman, MD, a Children’s Mercy Emergency Department physician with the topic of firearm injuries of children treated at CM.
On November 18th, Injury Free Coalition for Kids – Kansas City, in partnership with Charlie’s House, are inviting Head Start Parents and local injury prevention partners to discuss the impact of firearm injuries in the home and how to reduce the risk on unintentional access to a firearm by children. Kristyn Jefferies, MD will present a poster describing the impact of firearm injury in children residing in the Kansas City community. Letrice Murray, founder of the local Mother’s in Charge along with Tammy Kemp, CM ED Social Worker will provide an opportunity to learn how their work helps families through the trauma of a firearm injury to a loved one. BE SMART for Kids and Grandparents Against Gun Violence representatives will partner with the Kansas City Police Department’s Community Interaction Officers (CIOs) to provide demonstration and distribution of firearm safety devices. Mid-West Trauma Council members will provide a life-saving technique to “Stop the Bleed” and register attendees for the training to be held at a later date. Children's Mercy with Charlie’s House will provide first aid kits and home safety kits to participants.
On National Injury Prevention Day, a number of cities will focus on a specific preventable injury; San Diego will address bike safety, Kansas City will address firearm and home safety, Nashville will look at sleep safety, and Peoria will address child passenger safety. Boston will cover a variety of injury prevention topics including CPS, concussion and youth violence prevention during a conference.
To learn more about what’s being done in other cities across the country go to www.injuryfree.org.
For more information about National Injury Prevention Day or to arrange an interview in advance please contact, Lisa Augustine, 816-302-0197, email: laugustine@cmh.edu or E. Lenita Johnson 816-651-7777, e-mail: Estelljohnson@sbcglobal.net.