Endorsement - Dr. Robert Kyle, Medical Officer of Health
Linda has asked me to speak briefly on why the Health Department joined the Heads Up! Durham Steering Committee, and why the issue of prevention of brain injury is important to public health.
In public health, our primary focus is the health and well-being of the population through the promotion and protection of health and the prevention of illness and injury across the lifespan. In our injury prevention program at the Health Department, our objectives are focused on reducing the frequency, severity and impact of preventable injury, including head injuries. Together, we as members of this committee, share a common goal of raising awareness, and prevention of devastating and often debilitating injuries, and so when Linda approached us to join the steering committee, we were very excited to have the opportunity to become involved in working together towards prevention.
Injuries kill more people, and cause more years of potential life lost than any other disease. Preventable injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians aged one to 44, and claims the lives of more children in Canada than all other causes. Falls are the leading cause of overall injury costs, with transport related incidents following close behind. In Ontario, more than half of hospitalizations for injuries occurred due to falls, with transport incidents the third highest cause.
We know injuries can happen anytime, anyplace, and to anyone. Every two days a Durham Region resident dies as a result of an injury. In 2011-2012, 19% of Durham Region elementary school students and 31% of secondary school students reported they had experienced a head injury in their lifetime. While the results were comparable to Ontario for elementary school students, more secondary school students experienced a head injury in their lifetime in Durham as compared to the Ontario average of 22%.
Another concerning statistic: the rate of concussion-related emergency room visits has been increasing in Durham since 2008. Youth 14-19 years account for the largest proportion of concussion-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations, with concussions occurring more often in males (Injury at a Glance, 2013).
The good news is most people with a concussion recover quickly and fully. But we know for some people the symptoms can last for days, weeks or longer, especially with a serious or repeated concussion. This can result in learning disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse problems and lifelong behaviour change. So it is vital that we focus on prevention.
The vast majority of injures are both predictable and preventable. We know when they happen and under what conditions. We know who is at risk, and we increasingly know what works and what does not with respect to prevention. The first step to preventing injury is increasing awareness of the risks, the protective and resilience factors associated with injury, and the behaviours that have the potential to cause injury. We as community partners and organizations all share a common interest in increasing this awareness through our various programs and services and resources. Community organizations have the capacity to work together to create safe and supportive environments, and therefore provide members of the public with an increased capacity to prevent injury.
We look forward to working together with all of you on this committee, to promote the awareness and prevention of injuries through enhanced communication, education and promotion; and support the committee’s vision that Durham Region is a community where brain injury awareness, prevention and support is evident in all aspects of our lives as we learn, work and play.
Thank you.
In public health, our primary focus is the health and well-being of the population through the promotion and protection of health and the prevention of illness and injury across the lifespan. In our injury prevention program at the Health Department, our objectives are focused on reducing the frequency, severity and impact of preventable injury, including head injuries. Together, we as members of this committee, share a common goal of raising awareness, and prevention of devastating and often debilitating injuries, and so when Linda approached us to join the steering committee, we were very excited to have the opportunity to become involved in working together towards prevention.
Injuries kill more people, and cause more years of potential life lost than any other disease. Preventable injury is the leading cause of death for Canadians aged one to 44, and claims the lives of more children in Canada than all other causes. Falls are the leading cause of overall injury costs, with transport related incidents following close behind. In Ontario, more than half of hospitalizations for injuries occurred due to falls, with transport incidents the third highest cause.
We know injuries can happen anytime, anyplace, and to anyone. Every two days a Durham Region resident dies as a result of an injury. In 2011-2012, 19% of Durham Region elementary school students and 31% of secondary school students reported they had experienced a head injury in their lifetime. While the results were comparable to Ontario for elementary school students, more secondary school students experienced a head injury in their lifetime in Durham as compared to the Ontario average of 22%.
Another concerning statistic: the rate of concussion-related emergency room visits has been increasing in Durham since 2008. Youth 14-19 years account for the largest proportion of concussion-related emergency room visits and hospitalizations, with concussions occurring more often in males (Injury at a Glance, 2013).
The good news is most people with a concussion recover quickly and fully. But we know for some people the symptoms can last for days, weeks or longer, especially with a serious or repeated concussion. This can result in learning disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse problems and lifelong behaviour change. So it is vital that we focus on prevention.
The vast majority of injures are both predictable and preventable. We know when they happen and under what conditions. We know who is at risk, and we increasingly know what works and what does not with respect to prevention. The first step to preventing injury is increasing awareness of the risks, the protective and resilience factors associated with injury, and the behaviours that have the potential to cause injury. We as community partners and organizations all share a common interest in increasing this awareness through our various programs and services and resources. Community organizations have the capacity to work together to create safe and supportive environments, and therefore provide members of the public with an increased capacity to prevent injury.
We look forward to working together with all of you on this committee, to promote the awareness and prevention of injuries through enhanced communication, education and promotion; and support the committee’s vision that Durham Region is a community where brain injury awareness, prevention and support is evident in all aspects of our lives as we learn, work and play.
Thank you.