April 19, 2004

April 22 Injury Summit Provides Awareness About Injury Risks

Did you know that injuries — intentional and unintentional — are the leading cause of death for Idahoans ages 1 to 44, and that Idaho’s injury fatality rate is consistently higher than the rest of the United States? To build awareness about common injuries and how to reduce risks, the Idaho Public Health Association (IPHA) has teamed up with Boise State University and other public health partners to host an Injury Prevention Summit from noon-1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22, in the Alexander Room in the Student Union at Boise State. The Summit is presented as part of Idaho Public Health Month and is a free educational program open to everyone. Injuries are a serious public health issue. Injuries are classified as either intentional, such as violence, or unintentional, such as motor vehicle crashes. While it is easy to think of these injuries as “accidents,” many of these problems are predictable and preventable. At the summit, speakers will cover several of the most common types of intentional and unintentional injuries in Idaho and what residents can do to reduce their risks. Speakers will present information about some of the most prevalent injuries: Seat belt and car seat use In 2002, the latest year for which data are available, Idaho’s unintentional injury fatality rate was 23 percent higher than that of the United States. Almost half of the unintentional injury deaths in Idaho were due to motor vehicle collisions, and about two thirds of these individuals were not wearing seat belts. Idaho’s seat belt use rate of 72 percent lags behind the national seat belt use rate of 79 percent. From 1998 through 2002, 77 percent of the193 teens killed in traffic crashes were not buckled up. Josephine O’Connor, child passenger safety specialist at the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Highway Safety, will present the efforts being made by the department and highway safety partners statewide to reduce unintentional deaths and serious injuries in traffic crashes by increasing use of safety restraints. Fall Prevention Falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in Idaho. Falls are especially common among elderly people. Physical activity to improve lower body strength, balance, flexibility and endurance can reduce the risk of falling. Ginger Floerchinger-Franks, the injury prevention program manager for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, will discuss this topic. “We are working to address this serious problem,” said Floerchinger-Franks. “Idaho’s public health districts are working with area Agencies on Aging, senior centers and other sites where seniors gather to provide exercise classes lead by trained volunteers.” Suicide prevention The second leading cause of intentional deaths for Idaho citizens between the ages of 15 to 34 years old is suicide. From 1999 through 2001, 559 Idahoans took their own lives, and it is estimated that 40 times that number attempted suicide. In 2001 Idaho had the seventh highest suicide rate in the United States and it is consistently among the states with the highest rates of suicide. Of special concern is that two-thirds of Idaho suicides involve a firearm, which is higher than the national average. Besides the emotional impact of suicide, it is estimated that youth suicide in Idaho results in direct costs to families of $3.77 million and lost earnings of $81 million. Dr. John Hanks, who is with the Idaho chapter of Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN-Idaho), will discuss what is being done about this problem. “In November 2003, Idaho released the first Idaho Suicide Prevention Plan,” said Hanks. “We hope that if Idaho can implement the suicide prevention plan now in circulation, there would be that much more public and private energy and resources directed at suicide prevention. As a leading cause of death in all ages, this issue receives little attention and minimal resources.” Sexual Violence Prevention According to estimates provided by Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 (19. 9 percent) women in Idaho have been forcibly raped before the age of 18. This ranks Idaho in the top 5 in the nation for incidents of forcible rape. Due to the extent of the problem, Kaili McCray, with the Sexual Violence Prevention Program at IDHW, will discuss this issue and propose comprehensive solutions. “Because over 90 percent of rape victims are female, and 99 percent of the offenders are male, we must effectively engage men in sexual violence prevention efforts if we are to make any significant impact,” said McCray. “Most men do not rape and are non-violent. However, when sexual violence does occur the perpetrators are men. If we can effectively engage the majority of men who are non-violent, we can impact awareness, attitude and behavior levels, which will lead to reduced violence against women and an atmosphere where men will hold other men accountable for their actions.” To learn more about the steps being taken to reduce intentional and unintentional injuries in Idaho, plan on attending the Idaho Injury Prevention Summit this Thursday. For more information about this event, please contact Dr. Susan Gelletly at 208 389-5033 or Boise State health sciences professor Sarah Toevs at 208 426-2452. Contact Sarah Toevs College of Health Sciences 208 426-2452 Media contact Pat Pyke communications and marketing 208 426-1987