During National Public Health Week (NPHW), which runs through April 10, the American Public Health Association (APHA) is reminding people that“Safety is No Accident.”
The APHA is using the week – and that theme – to educate the public about ways to live injury free at work, at home, and in other areas.
“The potential for injury is all around us,” according to the APHA’s website. “Each year, nearly 150,000 people die from injuries, and almost 30 million people are injured seriously enough to go to the emergency room.”
Among the ways people can promote safety and prevent injuries: wearing a seatbelt, properly installing and using child safety seats, wearing a helmet and storing cleaning supplies in locked cabinets.
Among the many organizations partnering with APHA to promote NPHW are the American Association of Poison Control Centers, National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Wholesale Retail Trade Program, and The American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA). “Although the greatest cost of injury may be the compromised health of a loved one, the financial costs are also staggering,” says the AIHA. “Injuries account for 12% of annual medical care spending, totaling as much as $69 billion per year. The safety of our families and our communities is the result of careful planning and reinforcement of positive safety behaviors.”
For information on NPHW, visitwww.nphw.org.
