California Injury Prevention Network Discussions

Hold on CIPN website

2007-07-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Californina Injury Prevention Network (CIPN) is in the process of transition this summer. Unfortunately, that means that we cannot respond to member inquiries and no new members can be added. However, the blog will continue to be active and members can communicate by posting or responding to posts. Expect to see the CIPN site back up and running by Fall 2007 with lots of new updates and information. Thank you for your patience during this tranisition period.

Kids' Plate RFA Now Available Online!

2007-07-02T14:40:00.000-07:00

If you are interested in pursuing Kids' Plates funding for child/adolescent unintentional injury prevention efforts, please go to http://www.cippp.org to review and download the new RFA. The grants are bigger and the funding period is longer.

Job Opportunity: Project Coordinator

2007-06-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Job Title: Project Coordinator
Employer: The California Center for Physical Activity
Job Description: This person will coordinate and/or develop and expand four dynamic projects aimed at increasing physical activity among children and their families. In addition, incumbent will write grant proposals, negotiate budgets, monitor and evaluate work plan activities, prepare project reports, develop issue briefs and white papers, present at state and national professional meetings and conferences, and develop expertise in innovative project areas.
Location: Sacramento, CA
Requirements: Bachelors degree in Public Health, Urban Planning or a related field and three years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Background in community design, education and community capacity-building helpful; Excellent written and verbal communication skills required; Masters degree highly preferred.

For more information, individuals can apply at: http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/careers/ The req number is 23168BR and job code and title is 7236: Analyst III.

Job Opportunity: Project Coordinator

2007-06-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Kids' Plates program is looking for a full time staff member to work as a Project Coordinator based in Sacramento, CA. Job responsibilities include Identification, networking, and collaboration with new and existing partners and funders to increase and build upon the local, regional, and statewide capacity of child and adolescent injury control, for current and potential Kids' Plates grantees; Identification of new and emerging Kids' Plates program needs. Research and development of innovative IP programs, issues and resources; and coordination and dissemination of current and upcoming information relevant child and adolescent injury prevention through the statewide injury prevention website.

If you are interested in the position or want to find out more, go to: https://jobsfoundation.sdsu.edu/ then click on "search jobs" and go to job 070120 Project Coordinator at the Center for Injury Prevention Policy and Practice.

Healthy You-Keeping Kids Safe on the Road

2007-06-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

In the June/July issue of APHA's newsletter, "The Nation's Health," the Healthy You section is all about easy steps to keep children safe on the road. The article stresses the importnace of seat belt use, talking to teens about driving and safe behaviors, and tire tips to keep your car running safely. You can download free copies of Healthy You every month. (May have to wait for updates on the site)

Click here to see this month's Healthy You

Drug Overdose Deaths

2007-06-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

In April, New Mexico enacted a law that would protect thosewho contact emergency services for a friend or family member experiencing drug overdoses. This law was made to decrease the death rate of those experiencing drug overdoses. By not charging or prosecuting those people in possession of illegal substances, New Mexico hopes that more people will be willing to call in a drug overdose so that the number of preventable deaths due to overdoses decreases.

To read more about this law, visit the APHA's newsletter, "The Nation's Health"

Familicide

2007-06-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

Familicide is the term used to describe the killing of one's entire family and oneself. The majority of US familicides are committed by the father and it is usually triggered by financial hardship. Mothers that commit familicides usually only kill the children and not the spouse because they believe that the husband can cope and move on but that the children would be left in a cruel world so that it would be better for her to take them with her. Familicide is seen as an extended suicide of the perpetrator. although familicides are infrequent, the majority of mass suicides (the killing of 4 or more people in less than a 24 hour period) committed in the US are familicides.

To read more about familicides, click here

Parents, Kids, and Media Content

2007-06-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Kaiser Family Foundation has just released a report on parents and their control over sex and violence in the media. The study involved 1,008 parents of children ages 2-17 years old. The study found that two-thirds of parents are concerned about the amount of sex and violence in the media today but only 20% of parents think it is their problem. The majority of parents believe that they are doing a good job of controlling the amount of sex and violence their kids are exposed to at home. They do so buy blocking certain channels, closely monitoring Internet use, and by talking to clerks at video game stores about ratings and appropriateness. However, parents are concerned about their children once they step outside the house and away from their watchful eyes.

Two-thirds of parents want stricter government policies on TV content but say that the educational programing on TV is a positive factor in the development of their child. The majority of parents also believe that despite the negativity of the dangers of the Internet, they believe that it is largely a positive force in the education of their children.

To read more about the study, click here.

Ten Road Commandments

2007-06-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

The Vatican has released the Ten Road Commandments which are aimed at promoting safer driving practices. This release comes from the office for migrants and itinerant people. The head of the office, Cardinal Renato Martino, felt like this was neccessary because driving has become such a large part of daily life. The ten Road Commandments are as follows:

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.

To read more about the Ten Road Commandments, click here.

Free Playground Training in Los Angeles

2007-06-20T13:21:00.000-07:00

Play (WE Play!) Training

Los Angeles, CA

July 18, 2007

This free workshop is hosted by KaBOOM! The training will prepare you to build great playspaces such as playgrounds, skateparks, sports fields and ice rinks in your community. Here are a few topics you'll master at WE Play!

* Using the community-build approach that both reduces cost and engages your community
* Safety considerations and choosing the right playground equipment
* Planning effective fundraising events and writing successful grant proposals
* Evaluating and selecting equipment vendors

Registration is free but space is limited.

Click here to register and to find out more information.

Summer is the Most Dangerous Time for Kids Playing In and Around Cars

2007-06-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

According to the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety (ACTS), summer is the most dangerous time of the year for children playing in and around cars. This is because the children are out of school and most likely outside with little or no supervision. Each year hundreds of children suffer injuries or death from vehicles backing out of driveways, being trapped in hot vehicles or in car trunks, being strangled by power windows, or in vehicles inadvertently put in motion by children moving the shift lever.

ACTS has compiled the results of a survey done on over 900 parents with children 12 years and under about parenting behavior and supervision of their children in and around cars. Here are some of the results.

- On average, parents normally hold a child's hand in a parking lot until the child is at least 7 1/2 years old.
- Most parents require their children to be in a safety seat or booster seat until age 6 1/2.
- 9 out of 10 parents say they have never left a child under 5 alone in a car.
- Two thirds of parents thought it unlikely or very unlikely that a child in their neighborhood might die from the heat after being left alone in a car.
- Less than half (46%) thought it was likely that a child in their neighborhood might be hit by a car backing out of a driveway.
- 44% of parents surveyed have known someone whose child was hit by a car.

To read the full survey results and to visit the new and improved ACTS site, click here

Study: California's Strict Laws Decrease Illegal Firearm Purchases at Gun Shows

2007-06-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

Injury Prevention, a peer-reviewed health journal, published a study involving field observations of gun shows across the country and the effect that California laws have on curbing illegal firearm purchases compared to other states.

The study collected data from 28 gun shows, eight each in California and Nevada, six in Arizona, four in Texas and two in Florida - between April 2005 and March 2006. California has the toughest regulations- requiring gun show promoters to be licensed whereas the others states do not have such regulations. The other states were chosen because they were the leading sources of guns used in crimes in California.

Common at the gun shows in the other states were "straw purchases," where an individual with a clean record would purchase a firearm under their name for someone with a criminal record. Also, private party sales that do not require the buyer to undergo a background check have long been suspected as a way for criminals to get guns. In the comparison states, such sales are not regulated, working under the "don't ask, don't tell policy." In California, private party sales can take place, but they must be processed by a licensed retailer, the buyer must submit to a background check, and the transaction is documented.

This study shows that regulations do work and that California, above all the other states, has the lowest number of illegal firearm transactions.

To read more about this study, click here.

2007 National Injury & Violence Prevention Research Conference

2007-06-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

The Society for Advancement for Violence and Injury Prevention (SAVIR) along with the Columbus Children's Hospital, will host the first national injury and violence research conference on October 10-11, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. The objectives of the conference are:

1) To identify and evaluate recent injury & violence research findings in the areas of qualitative, quantitative, and translational research,
2) To organize across disciplines to address the unique challenges faced by researchers and public health professionals in injury and violence prevention, and
3) to recognize and potentially solve methodological issues encountered in injury and violence research.

Research abstracts will be accepted until July 15, 2007.

For more information about SAVIR, click here

For the PDF/registration forfor the conference, click here

Antidepressants and the Risk of Suicide

2007-06-08T13:59:00.000-07:00

The New England Journal of Medicine has just released an article about antidepressants and suicide entitled: "Expanding the Black Box-Depression, Antideppresants and the Risk of Suicide" by Richard A. Friedman, M.D., and Andrew C. Leon, Ph.D.

On May 2, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that all antidepressant medications carry an expanded black-box warning incorporating information about an increased risk of suicidal symptoms in young adults 18 to 24 years of age. Also included on the label is, "depression and other serious psychiatric disorders are themselves associated with increases in the risk of suicide," which implies that suicidal thinking, feeling, and behavior are core symptoms of the disease and if you do not take the medication, there are risks.

This new label may confuse depressed patients and their families and frighten physicians from prescribing medication to their patients. However, the label does bring into light the issue of untreated depression and the importance of recognizing depression and following a patient's progress especially in the beginning of treatment.

To read the full article, click here

Heads Up! Tool for Diagnosing and Managing Brain Injuries

2007-06-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

In the June 7, 2007 edition of the MMWR, there is a notice to readers informing them about the prevelance of mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) and how clinicians can help prevent MTBI or concussion and improve patient health outcomes with early diagnosis, management, and appropriate referral. Diagnosing MTBIs can be difficult due to certain symptoms that appear to be similar to those of other medical conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and headache syndromes.

To aid clinicians in the diagnosis and management of MTBIs, CDC recently updated and revised the Heads Up: Brain Injury in Your Practice tool kit. The free tool kit can be ordered or downloaded at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/tbi/physicians_tool_kit.htm. Additional information regarding MTBI is available at http://www.cdc.gov/injury, or by e-mail, cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or telephone, 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636).

Web Conference: The Health Care Sector: A Dialogue on Organizational Practices to Prevent Violence Against Women

2007-06-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

On June 22, 2007 at 11:00 am PST, the Prevention Institute and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assult will host "The Health Care Sector: A Dialogue on Organizational Practices to Prevent Violence Against Women." This conference is one of a series of open dialogues that will highlight specific organizational practices from the health care sector to promote primary prevention of violence against women. The web conference is free but registration is required. All the materials for the conference are available online (click the link below).

Click here for more information and to register for the Web Conference

Report:Poised for Prevention: Advancing Promising Approaches to Primary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence

2007-06-05T10:28:00.000-07:00

In September 2006, Prevention Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation convened leaders from across the country to develop a vision for primary prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV). This report is a showcase of the gathering. It explores what communities can do to prevent IPV before it occurs, primary prevention efforts within immigrant communities, and recommended actions to build national momentum for primary prevention of IPV.

To read the full report, click here

Planning Communities: What Health Has to Do With It

2007-06-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

One of our members, Nancy Baer, along with Tracey Rattray, has just released "Planning Communities: What Health Has to Do With It," an article about urban planning and it's impact on public health. This article may be of particular interest to those working in transportation safety, urban planning, land use, and building healthy communities. Feel free to distribute widely and to anyone interested. Print copies are available upon request.

Click here to access the pdf of Planning Communities

Save the Date: Discover the Connections! Bridging Strategies to Prevent Child Injury and Maltreatment

2007-06-05T09:36:00.000-07:00

On February 24-26, 2008, in Sacramento, CA, the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Social Services will host "Discover Connections," the first combined conference on Child and Adolescent Injury and Maltreatment Prevention. The conference will initiate discovery on how attendees can collaborate and learn from each other to ensure that every child enjoys a healthy life in a nurturing environment and community.

More information as it becomes available but remember to SAVE the DATE!

CIPN Survey Thank You

2007-06-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the members that submitted a survey. We had lots of great feedback and we hope that we can incorporate all of the great ideas that we received into our site and blog. Congratulations to the winners of the raffle for the book "Injury Prevention and Public Health: Practical Knowledge, Skills and Strategies." The winners are Dawn Arledge, Nell Bernstein, and Anna Zacher. If you have any more comments and suggestions, we would love to hear them. Let us know at injprevnetwork@sfdph.org or post on the blog! Thanks again!

9th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion

2007-05-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

This year, the 9th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion will take place in Merida, Mexico on March 15-18, 2007. The conference will focus on the processes of globalization and its implications for injuries and violence. The main themes will be Violence and Traffic Accidents. Abstracts for the conference will be accepted until June 30, 2007. Registration information, abstract submission information, as well as general information is available at the website.

Click here to check out the website.

CIPN Evaluation Survey

2007-05-29T12:38:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 31, 2007, is the last day to submit your CIPN Evaluation Survey and still be eligible for the drawing for one of three copies of "Injury Prevention and Public Health: Practical Knowledge, Skills and Strategies." If you have not received your survey by e-mail, please let us know by e-mailing us at injprevnetwork@sfdph.org. Thank you!

Study: Exercise Rejuvenates Muscles in Seniors

2007-05-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

A study done on 25 seniors in Canada by Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky of McMaster University Medical Centre showed that weight training helped to reverse aging of muscle tissue in healthy senior citizens. The study had healthy seniors over 65 participate in a weight lifting program for 2 hours a week for 6 months. The study compared the tissue samples to that of healthy men and women in their 20's that did the exact same exercises.

The results of the study showed that prior to exercise training, the older adults were 59% weaker than the young adults. After the training, the older adults improved by about 50% and were only 38% weaker than the young adults. The genes and cellular material damaged by aging were rejuvenated in the weight-lifting seniors. The older adult muscles become similar to young adult muscle. Researchers believe that weight training encourages muscles to produce new healthy tissue which keep it young. This study just reinforces what we already know, that exercise is a major component in fall and injury prevention for seniors.

To read more on the study, click here

Signifigant Disparities in Fatal-Injury Rates Persist Between White and Minority Children

2007-05-23T12:30:00.000-07:00

The most recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Surveillance Summary reports on a study on the disparities in fatal-injury rates among white and minority children. The study, which drew its data from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System for death certificates reported between 1999 to 2002, found that unintentional injury, homicide, and suicide were the 1st, 2nd, and 4th leading causes of death among persons aged 1-19 years, with minorities holding the highest rates.

Hispanics and Asian/Pacific Islanders consistently had a lower risk for fatal injury than did whites but American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AIs/ANs) and blacks consistently had higher risks. Blacks and AIs/ANs infants younger than 1 year of age had consistently higher total injury death rates with more than twice the rate of injury deaths than whites. AI/AN infants had the highest MV traffic deaths while black infants had the highest unintentional suffocation and homicide rates. Among children aged 1 to 9 years of age, AIs/ANs had the highest rate of MV traffic deaths and drownings while blacks had the highest rates of homicide and fire/burn death. In the 10 to 19 year age group, AIs/ANs had the highest rates of suicide and MV traffic deaths while blacks had the highest rate of homicide.

The study found that the disparity in injury mortality rates by race/ethnicity from 1982-1985 has not lessened by 1999-2002. The authors urge future injury-prevention efforts that target the injury mechanisms most harmful to each minority in each age group by using culturally appropriate prevention messages and strategies to close the gap between whites and minorities.

To read the full report, click here.

Webinar: Emergency Preparedness

2007-05-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

SOPHE is hosting an Emergency Preparedness and Response Webinar entitled "The Role of Helath Educators Responding to Public Health Emergencies." The purpose of the webinar is to provide information and resources to assist health education professionals to work alongside communication specialists in designing and disseminating the information necessary to protect public health and have an effective response to an emergency event.

The webinar is free but registration is required. The webinar will be held on Wednesday May 23, 2007 at 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time.

Click here for more information about the webinar as well to register

Grant Opportunity: Kids Plates

2007-05-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

The 2007-2008 Kids Plates Funding Opportunities are coming!

In Late June, the RFA's from Kids Plates will be released online at www.cippp.org Below is the announcement flyer (Click for a larger view) . More information as it becomes available.

Falls, disability and hunger are surprisingly common aspects of life for California seniors

2007-05-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research just released a policy brief stating that more than one out of five California seniors experience falls, disability, and hunger or a combination of the three. According to the brief, nearly 12% of Californians ages 65 and older have fallen more than once in the previous year; nearly 7% have some disability that requires special assistance for simple tasks such as eating, dressing or bathing; and 20% of low-income seniors consistently cannot afford to buy food.

Falls, disabilities and food insecurity are each, to an extent, preventable," said Steven P. Wallace, lead author of the brief and Associate Director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "Policies and programs that help individuals address these issues can have a tremendous impact on the ability of older Californians to live independently longer." As the senior population in California begins to rise, it is important to see what health issues are impacting our seniors.

The data used in this study comes from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and represents the first time that this prevalence data has been available for California senior citizens.

To read more about the study. click here

To sign up for free updates from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and CHIS, click here.

SF Pedestrian Safety Workshop

2007-05-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

San Francisco Pedestrian Safety Workshop

On June 25, 2007 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm

The San Francisco Public Library

100 Larkin Street, San Francisco

Latino/Hispanic Rooms

Free and Open to the Public

Free Lunch Included

RSVP required

At this workshop, participants will learn how to increase pedestrian safety in their neighborhood, contribute to the Better Streets Plan process, and hear about mini-grant funding opportunities on pedestrian safety. This year, we will have 2 dynamic speakers conducting the majority of the workshop. Paul Zykofsky of the Local Government Commission and Wendy Alfsen of California Walks will be leading an interactive workshop on pedestrian safety improvements that are applicable to San Francisco's neighborhoods. RSVP by June 15, 2007. Priority will be given to San Francisco residents and professionals. Below is the registration form, click for a larger view.

-For more information, contact Ana Validzic at 415-581-2478

Obesity Increase Risk of Injury on the Job

2007-05-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy conducted a study in which they found that those employees who were classified as overweight or obese by BMI Standards (Body Mass Index- which calculates body fat using the person's height and weight) were more likely to suffer a traumatic workplace injury.

The study participants include 7,690 workers in various aluminum manufacturing plants across the country. Of the 7,690 workers included in the study, 29% were injured at least once between January 2, 2002, and December 31, 2004. Approximately 85% of the injured workers were classified as overweight or obese. More than 28% of injuries occurred among employees classified as overweight, 30% in the obese category and almost 34% in the severely obese category. The severely obese group also had the most injuries to the hand/wrist/finger (22%) when compared to the same injuries in the other weight categories.

The authors recommend obesity prevention programs to reduce workplace injury rates and work time loss.

To read more about the study, click here

Airbags May Be Dangerous for Small and Tall People

2007-05-17T15:35:00.000-07:00

Craig Newgard, MD, Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, authored the study, "Stature, Body Weight and Serious Injury from Air Bags Among Adult Drivers and Passengers Involved in Motor Vehicle Crashes." The study analyzed crash data for over 65,000 front-seat occupants and found that airbags, while effective for people of medium stature (5’3” to 5’11”) were actually harmful to people smaller than 4’11” and taller than 6’3”.

Body weight was not a contributing factor to injury rates. Since many “smart” airbags use body weight to determine how the airbag deploys, these data suggest that a new method needs to be found. According to the author, “In this 11-year sample of drivers and front passengers, occupants of small and large stature appeared to be at risk of serious injury from an air bag. These findings suggest that to maximize safety such occupants should not be seated in front of an air bag when traveling in a motor vehicle.”

To read the full text, click here

Female Auto Crashes on the Rise

2007-05-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Although males have tended to be associated with alcohol-related crashes, a study to be presented at the 2007 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Annual Meeting shows that young females are beginning to show an alarming increase in fatal automobile crashes related to alcohol use and a failure to use seatbelts.

The study, led by Virginia W. Tsai MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, showed that over a 10 year period (1995-2004) females began to “catch up” to males in risky behaviors and while seatbelt use increased for both males and females, the increase for women was smaller. When combined with other factors such as cell phone use while driving and distractions from other teenagers in the car, the trends for young women are not positive. According to Dr. Tsai, "Young females should not be overlooked or underestimated in risky driving habits and involvement in alcohol-related crashes. ED staff should consider the teachable moment when they come across the young person involved in a crash no matter if they are male or female. They are both at considerable risk for serious and fatal crashes especially if there is alcohol involved. While they may be in the ED for a minor crash…the time and conversation the staff may have with them in the ED may save their lives."

To read the full study, click here

Click it or Ticket Campaign- May 21 - June 3, 2007

2007-05-17T13:34:00.000-07:00

During 2005, motor-vehicle crashes resulted in 33,041 deaths to vehicle occupants (excluding motorcyclists), and nearly 3 million occupants were treated for injuries in emergency departments in the United States Safety belts, child safety seats, and booster seats can prevent serious injury and death during a crash.

Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of occupant restraints in motor vehicles, millions of adults and children travel unrestrained. Click It or Ticket, May 21--June 3, 2007, is a national campaign that is coordinated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to increase the proper use of safety belts and child restraints. Law-enforcement agencies nationwide will participate by conducting intensive, high-visibility enforcement of safety belt and child restraint laws.

For more information on the Click it or Ticket Campaign, click here

For additional information on child passenger safety, click here

For information on preventing motor-vehicle crash injuries, click here

First 5 Launches Spanish Language Kit for New Parents

2007-05-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

The redesigned Spanish-language version of the Kit for New Parents is here!

With 50 percent of babies born to Latino parents in California each year, the free Kit will help Latino parents and caregivers best prepare for their newborns. The kit is filled with advice and useful tips, such as information on nutrition, safety, quality child care, health, discipline and early learning. It provides practical information in an easy-to-use manner and can help build parents' confidence as they undertake their new role. The Kit has been completely revised and updated to include a DVD, user-friendly improvements, the latest early childhood development information, and a fresh look.

The Kit also contains the easy-to-read books "Advice for New Parents," and "What To Do When Your Child Gets Sick," as well as "Puppy and Friends," an interactive book for parents and children to enjoy together.

First 5 California has partnered with First 5 County Commissions, hospitals, clinics, county agencies, home visitation programs and parenting education classes to distribute the Kit to new parents across the state. Parents and caregivers can also receive a free Kit by calling 1-800-50-NIÑOS.

For more information about the kit as well as photos, click here.

AJPH: Differences in Frequency of Violence and Reported Injury between Relationships with Reciprocal and Nonreciprocal Intimate Partner Violence

2007-05-09T11:49:00.000-07:00

In the May edition of the American Journal of Public Health, a study was published examining the prevalence of reciprocal (i.e. penetrated by both partners) and nonreciprocal intimate partner violence and whether or not reciprocity affects violence frequency and injury.

The study reported that almost 24% of all relationships had some violence, and half (49.7%) of those relationships were reciprocally violent. In nonreciprocal relationships, women (70%) were the perpetrators. With reciprocity, women were associated with more frequent violence but the men were not. In reciprocal violence, escalation tends to occur when one partner retaliates against the other, and injury becomes more likely with each blow. Relationships where there is reciprocal violence leads to a greater frequency of violence as well as greater injury.

The authors urge more research, prevention, and treatment approaches to examine the specific context of partner violence in order to improve prevention efforts. This including understanding the distal and immediate causes and motives that lead to partner violence.

To read the full study, click here (Must be a subscriber to AJPH)

Job Opportunity: Safe Routes to Schools Director

2007-05-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

TALC is hiring a Safe Routes to Schools Director - spread the word!

The Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) is hiring a full-time director for the new Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Partnership. The Partnership includes TALC, the Alameda County Public Health Department, and Cycles of Change. It will work to promote safe walking and biking to school to improve children's health, safety, and mobility, strengthen communities, reduce automobile trips, and improve air quality in school neighborhoods. The program is part of the nationwide Safe Routes to Schools movement and will be one of the few programs in an urban area.

To learn more about the position, click here

SafeKids State Rankings on Summer Injuries

2007-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

An average of 17 children die each day of an injury in the United States during the summer. The most common injury deaths are caused by drowning (which increases 89% in the summer over the annual monthly average), biking, falls, motor vehicle passenger injuries, and pedestrian injuries, making summer the most dangerous season for child injuries.

SafeKids released their first ever report ranking all 50 states and the District of Columbia according to the number of summertime accidental injury deaths per 100,000 children (ages 0 to 14) in their state, and the change in that rate over a five-year period (the average annual death rate for 1997-1999 vs. the average annual death rate for 2002-2004).

The highest ranked state was Vermont with a rate of 1.63 deaths per 100,000 while Wyoming was the lowest ranked state with 8.27 deaths per 100,000. California ranked #10 with 2.59 deaths per 100,000.

For more information and to view the full report, click here

Job Opportunity: Health Education Supervisor

2007-05-07T13:00:00.001-07:00

-Job #:070134
-Project/Department: Public Health Projects - CDLHN
-Job Title: Health Education Supervisor
-Position Located: in Richmond, California
-FTE Percent: 100% with benefits
-Advertised Salary: $4674 - $5681/per month

-Job Responsibilities: Under the general direction of the Immunization Branch Chief and Information and Education Section Chief, the candidate manages educational and promotional campaigns to increase adult vaccination, provides DHS liaison to the California Adult Immunization Coalition, and supervises health educators and health education assistants responsible for childhood and adolescent immunization awareness campaign activities and special events as described below. Plan/create budgets, develop/implement/evaluate statewide immunization education projects to improve immunization levels of California's adults. (Complete job description available on website)

-Minimum Qualifications: Master's Degree + four years experience in similar field with supervisory responsibility for a major communications, social marketing, or health promotion program. Ability to implement social marketing and/or health promotion campaigns including research/needs assessment, analysis, and evaluation. Experience managing health education projects; creating and writing press releases and publicity materials; conducting conference workshops and training programs. Team player. Strong oral and written skills. Proven organizational skills.

To apply for this position or to view the complete job description, follow this pathway:

-Go to http://www.foundation.sdsu.edu/
-Click on the gray tab labeled Employment Opportunities
-Click on “Search Jobs”
-Remember, the job # is 070134

Heat Illness Prevention Seminars- May thru June 2007

2007-05-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

This seminar is provided by the Cal/OSHA Consultation Service and State Compensation Insurance Fund and is designed to inform California employers and their supervisors about Heat Illness Prevention. Learn how heat illness prevention applies to employees and how you can meet the Cal/OSHA standard by updating and implementing your Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) to reflect the new requirements. The workshop will include a presentation on Heat Illness Prevention and the importance of having an effective IIPP. By the end of the 1 hour seminar, you will:

-Understand California’s Heat Illness Prevention regulation, and how you can comply.
-Learn what you must do to protect your employees.
-Update your IIPP with the Heat Illness Prevention requirements:
-Identify and evaluate the “hazard" (e.g. heat exposure and other risk factors).
-Provide a “control” for the hazard (e.g. water, shade, and rest breaks).
-Implement a emergency action response plan (including emergency medical services).
-Train your employees to recognize heat illness (e.g. prevention and remedy).

Various Training sites throughout California are available and offered in English or Spanish. Click here to view the dates and site of the seminars.

Funding Opportunity: Archstone Foundation

2007-05-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Archstone Foundation is pleased to announce the release of a Request for Proposals (RFP) entitled California Senior Fall Prevention Projects – Phase Two, part of the Foundation’s five-year Fall Prevention Initiative to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly. The timeline for this funding opportunity is as follows:

May 22, 2007 - Applicant Informational Teleconference (RSVP Required)
June 29, 2007 - Proposals Due
July – August, 2007 - Proposal Review Process and Site Visits
September 21, 2007 - Approval and Notification of Awards
October 1, 2007 - Grant Funding Begins

The RFP and updates about the Fall Prevention Initiative can be found at our Web site at http://www.archstone.org/ or at the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence Web site at http://www.stopfalls.org/.

CIPN Evaluation Survey Reminder

2007-05-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Please check your e-mail and fill out the CIPN Evaluation survey if you have not already done so. We need your feedback so that we can improve our site and blog to better serve your needs. So far we have gotten some great ideas about improving the site but we want to hear from more of you. As an incentive for filling out the survey, each member who returns a survey is eligible to win one of three copies of Injury Prevention and Public Health: Practical Knowledge, Skills, and Strategies. (Picture below) This is a great book for injury prevention professionals, students, and anyone interested in injury prevention. To find out more about the book, visit our resources page under publications or click here. We will announce the winners at the end of May so get your survey in ASAP! Thank you to those who have already sent in your survey. :)

Once you have completed the survey please return by e-mail or fax the survey to 415-581-2490. If you have any problems accessing the survey, please call 415-581-2456 (Vanessa Jew, CIPN project assistant) or e-mail vanessa.jew@sfdph.org. Thank you.

Increase in Nonfatal Ladder Injuries

2007-05-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

The May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports on a 16 year study from 1990-2005 on the trend in nonfatal ladder injuries on a national level. The study finds that there has been a 50% increase in the rate of ladder injuries since 1990. The injuries occurred predominately in non-occupational settings and had a high likelihood of hospital admission. Males were the predominant sex injured and fractures was the most common injury for hospital admission. These ladder injuries also have a long term impact on the victims, as the injuries may require future surgeries, rehabilitation, lifelong arthritis, and chronic pain. The studies authors urge for stronger prevention and educational interventions to help reverse the rise in ladder injuries.

To read the full journal article, click here (must have subscription)

New study group raises Capitol Hill's awareness of public health

2007-05-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Launched in February, the new Congressional Study Group on Public Health, will sponsor educational briefings on Capitol Hill to inform members of Congress and their staff about the diverse and important work of public health professionals as well as the health protection efforts they undertake. Among the group's goals will be to sponsor bi-monthly seminars on a wide range of public health topics. The study group hopes to partner with the CDC and other health agencies to provide congressional leaders a more complete understanding of the important health efforts being made. For more information on the study group, call (202) 225-6101 or visit http://www.apha.org/

Webinar: "Putting Home Safety to Work"

2007-05-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday May 16, 2007, 1-2pm EDT, the Home Safety Council (HSC) will host the webinar: "Putting Home Safety to Work."

The HSC encourages families to take some simple hands-on steps to create a safer home environment from such leading hazards as falls, fires and burns, poisonings, chocking/suffocation and drownings. The webinar will demonstrate how to best implement a home safety program within your work place and/or community during June (Hands on Home Safety Month) and beyond.

Speakers include Home Safety Council President, Meri-K Appy and Director of Education and Outreach, Dr. Angela Mickalide. Join the webinar to be one of the first to hear the results of HSC's latest research, learn how to effectively use the Hands on Home Safety Month materials available to you, and get idea-starters from corporations and fire departments that have successfully implemented home safety campaigns.

To register and attend the webinar, click here.

MMWR: Worker's Memorial Day- April 28, 2007

2007-04-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

Workers' Memorial Day, April 28, was established to recognize workers who died or were injured on the job. On average, nearly 16 workers in the United States die each day from injuries sustained at work, and 134 die from work-related diseases. Daily, an estimated 11,500 private-sector workers have a nonfatal work-related injury or illness, and as a result, more than half require a job transfer, work restrictions, or time away from their jobs. Approximately 9,000 workers are treated in emergency departments each day because of occupational injuries, and approximately 200 of these workers are hospitalized. In 2004, workers' compensation costs for employers totaled $87 billion.

Workers' Memorial Day 2007 also will commemorate the thirty-sixth anniversary of the creation of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S. Department of Labor.

For more information, click here or by telephone, 800-356-4674.

MMWR: Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses

2007-04-26T21:23:00.000-07:00

The April 27, 2007 issue of the CDC's MMWR, reports on a study involving nonfatal occupational injuries. The data for the report was collected through a National Electronic Injury Surveillance System occupational supplement (NEISS-Work), which provides information on persons treated for nonfatal work-related injuries and illnesses in U.S. hospital emergency departments (EDs).

The report found that in 2004, an estimated 3.4 million nonfatal ED-treated injuries and illnesses occurred among workers of all ages. Workers aged <25 years had the highest injury/illness rates. More than three fourths of all nonfatal workplace injuries/illnesses were attributed to contact with objects or equipment (e.g., being struck by a falling tool or caught in machinery), bodily reaction or exertion (e.g., a sprain or strain), and falls. There were no significant differences in the number and rate of nonfatal injuries/illnesses for 2004 as compared to previous years (2003, 1998, 1996).

The report suggests that to reduce occupational injuries/illnesses, interventions should continue to target workers at highest risk and reduce exposure to those workplace hazards with the greatest potential for causing severe injury or death. More emphasis should be placed on prevention-effectiveness studies and dissemination of successful interventions to reduce work-related injuries and illnesses.

To read the full report, click here

AJPH: Traffic Deaths and Fuel Use-Are Car Characteristics Relevant?

2007-04-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

In the Letter section of the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health, Leonard Evans, author of Traffic Safety, 2006, questions the relevance of vehicle characteristics in Leon Robertson's study, Blood and oil: vehicle characteristics in relation to fatality risk and fuel economy. (AJPH. 2006;96:1906-1909) Evans states that "the relative unimportance of vehicles to safety is revealed by comparing fatality time trends in different countries." Australia, Britain and Canada have reduced fatalities by an average of 49% from 1979-2002 as compared to 16% in the US. Evans claims that it is not vehicle characteristics, but US policy, that is important in reducing traffic deaths and conserving fuel use. If the United States government adopts a stronger policy on driver behavior (seat belt usage, running red lights, speeding, etc.) and on increasing fuel taxes, driver safety and fuel conservation would increase.

Robertson defends his assertion that vehicle characteristics are relevant and that the data for the United States supports his argument. It is because of the disproportionate sales of overweight vehicles in the United States compared with the other countries, that the United States no longer has the lowest death rate in the world. Robertson responds to Evan's claim (stronger US policy is the way to reduce traffic deaths) by saying, "continuous monitoring of tens of millions of drivers on the road at any one time is hardly feasible."

What do you as an injury professional, think about this debate? Do car characteristics (size, type, etc) have a significant impact on traffic deaths and fuel use? Are stronger public policies the way to reduce fatalities and fuel consumption?

Let us know what you think by posting on the blog or e-mailing us at injprevnetwork@sfdph.org

Click here to read the full letters. (Must have a subscription to AJPH)

20th Annual Occupational Safety & Health Institute

2007-04-25T16:16:00.001-07:00

The Center of Occupational & Environmental Health at the University of California, Berkeley presents the 20th Annual Occupational Safety & Health Institute in Oakland, CA from July 30, August 3, 2007. Continuing Education Credit for Physicians, Nurses, Industrial Hygienists, etc. are available. Some of the courses available are:

-Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
-Updates in Work Disabilities
-Fundamentals of Workplace Safety
-Occupational and Environmental Toxicology

For course descriptions, objectives, hotel information, and registration, visit the website www.coehce.org or call 510-643-7277

Job Opportunity: Health Education Coordinator

2007-04-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

San Joaquin County is looking for a Program Coordinator-Public Health Educator.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for oversight and direction of the following Health Education programs: Smoking & Tobacco Outreach/Prevention Project, Dental Disease Prevention Project, Male Involvement Program, Information and Education Teen Pregnancy Prevention Project, and the (California Nutrition Network) Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program.

Minimum Qualifications
Education: Possession of a master’s degree in public health, from an accredited university or college, with a specialization in a public or community health education program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health.

Experience: Three years of increasingly responsible post-master’s qualifying experience as a professional Public Health Educator, one year of which must have been in a supervisory or management capacity.

License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license

To view the full job description including salary and benefits, click here.

Global Road Safety Week 2007- Road Safety is No Accident

2007-04-24T12:14:00.001-07:00

April 23-29, 2007 is the First United Nation's Global Road Safety Week. This international event will focus on increasing awareness about road traffic safety among youth and will highlight risk and prevention information.

Globally, people ages 0-25 years account for more than 40 percent of the nearly 1.2 million road traffic deaths that occur each year. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes account for 30 percent of deaths in people ages 1-25 years, making it the leading cause of death for our young people. In the United States, Global Road Safety Week events will focus on teen drivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is excited to take part in this effort and will focus on raising awareness about the important role parents play in keeping their teen drivers safe. In particular, parents can use graduated driver licensing (GDL) systems to guide and support their teen's road safety efforts

Research suggests that the most strict and comprehensive GDL programs are associated with 38 percent reductions in death and 40 percent reductions in injury among 16-year-old U.S. drivers. CDC hopes to increase awareness of this impact and help parents of teen drivers to learn more about the GDL requirements in their state.

CDC has developed a Global Road Safety Week 2007 website that provides information on teen driving and GDL systems and links to drivers licensing information for each state.

Visit the website at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/grsw/
If you have questions about CDC's Global Road Safety Week activities, please contact Michele Huitric at 770-488-1231 or mhuitric@cdc.gov

Job Opportunity: Executive Director - WalkSanDiego

2007-04-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Job Description:

The Executive Director is responsible for overall leadership and management of WalkSanDiego, including developing and managing the organization’s $300,000 budget and supervising a paid staff of 2-3 and volunteers or interns, as needed. The Executive Director reports to the Board Chair and works closely with the Board of Directors. The position is full-time with a salary range of $60,000-$68,000 annually (DOE), with excellent benefits, including health coverage and professional development opportunities.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have 7-15 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more specialized areas of land use planning, transportation planning, public policy implementation, community development, or public health issues requiring immersion in land use/transportation planning. A master’s degree, law degree, or certification in a field of planning, transportation, or public health is preferred. The ideal candidate would be culturally competent and experienced in working with diverse populations. They will also have strong leadership, organizational and management skills. Experience in fundraising, grant-writing, and non-profit management are also desired. Bilingual Spanish is a plus but is not required.

Submit application electronically to calmtraffic@walksandiego.org, by 4pm Pacific Time, April 30, 2007. No resumes accepted.

For more information and to download an application, visit www.walksandiego.org

Job Opportunity: IP Coordinator

2007-04-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

Job Description:

Full Time position is available for an injury prevention coordinator to develop injury prevention programs throughout the hospital and implement injury prevention activities. Analyzes research data to develop target area and evaluate programs. Assists with research tools to maintain quality programs/outcomes. Performs clinical assessment and provides ongoing education to patients, staff and community. Acts as a liason with CHLA and external agencies. Maintains membership in good standing with community partners. Develops, coordinates outreach programs.

Qualifications:

RN, Masters prepared. Minimum 3 years recent pediatric experience, grant writing experience preferred. CA RN license, current CPR.

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a special place where children have been cared for and cured for more than 100 years. Our hospital has become one of the world's top pediatric facilities, acknowledged throughout the United States and around the world for our leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. EOE/AA

Please apply on-line@ childrenshospitalla.org for immediate consideration.

MMWR: Nail Gun Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments-United States, 2001-2005

2007-04-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

The current issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), published a report on nail gun injuries in the United States from 2001-2005. The report found that during the 5 year period of 2001-2005, an average of 37,000 patients with injuries related to nail-gun use were treated annually in Emergency Departments. 40% of of those injuries occurred among consumers. With the speed, ease of use, and availability of nail guns, annual consumer nail-gun injuries have increased by 200% since 1991. Overall, most injuries were sustained in the upper extremities (75%) and puncture wounds were the most prevalent form of injury. In 2005, 96% of consumers injured by nail guns and 98% of workers injured by nail guns were men. The median age of an injured consumer and of a worker was 35 years and 27 years respectively.

Training regarding safe work practices might be one way of reducing nail-gun injuries. Another method would be to implement the use of sequential-trip triggers ( which decrease the likelihood of an accidental injury), especially with consumers who often have little or no training in tool use. In addition, supplemental information must be given at the point of purchase or rental to inform the consumer of safe nail gun use.

To read the full report, click here.

AJPH: Improving Access to Comprehensive Injury Risk Assessment and Risk Factor Reduction in Older Adult Populations

2007-04-12T13:47:00.000-07:00

The April issue of the American Journal of Public Health published a report on the effectiveness of a community-based, comprehensive older adult injury prevention initiative. The older adult injury prevention model addresses gaps in prevention by improving access to risk factor screening, safety devices, education, counseling, and medical care.

The study population included 140 program participants. The mean age was 68.3 +/- 9.7 years. 80.9% were women and 92.1% were Black. Nearly 2/3rds of the participants reported previous injury in their lifetime. The study assessed falls, poisonings, fire/burn, heat/cold exposure, vision, hearing, and home safety.

To read more about the older adult injury prevention initative, click here. (Must be a subscriber of the American Journal of Public Health)

AJPH:Firearm Injuries: Epidemic Then, Endemic Now

2007-04-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

The April issue of the American Journal of Public Health provides commentary on firearm injuries in the United States. There has been a transition in US firearm injuries from an epidemic phase (mid-1980s to early 1990s) to an endemic one (since the mid-1990s). Endemic US firearm injuries merit public health attention because they exact an ongoing toll, may give rise to new epidemic outbreaks, and can foster firearm injuries in other parts of the world.

The endemic period is a good time for the development of ongoing prevention approaches, including assessment and monitoring of local risk factors over time and application of proven measures to reduce these risk factors, development of means to address changing circumstances, and ongoing professional and public education designed to weave firearm injury prevention into the fabric of public health work and everyday life.

To read the full article, click here. (Must be a subscriber of the American Journal of Public Health)

MMWR:Fatal Occupational Injuries-United States, 2005

2007-04-10T12:50:00.000-07:00

The April 6, 2007 MMWR, reports on fatal occupational injuries in the United States. The data for this report was drawn from the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries(CFOI) which is collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The study found that in 2005, US workers died from an injury while at work at a rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers. The majority of fatalities resulted from transportation incidents (43%) and falls (18%). Males accounted for 93% of all deaths and had a work-related fatalitity rate approximately 12 times the rate of females (6.9 per 100,000 vs 0.6). Workers aged 35-54 years accounted for 46% of workplace deaths. Rates increased with age, from 2.3 per 100,000 workers for those aged 16-19 years to 11.3 per 100,000 for workers aged 65+.

The study urges for more traffic safety measures such as increased promotion of safety belt usage, prevention of impaired driving, and safer highway work zones.

To read the full report, click here.

Changes to CIPN Resources webpage

2007-04-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

We have just condensed our resources page and links page into one page on the CIPN website. We added a few much needed resources and reorganized the page. Check it out for yourself and discover a resource you never knew about. Click here to visit the Resources page.

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think of the resources page. E-mail us at injprevnetwork@sfdph.org or leave us a comment on the blog.

Do Speeding Tickets Reduce the Likelihood of Receiving Subsequent Speeding Tickets?

2007-04-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

The March 2007 issue of the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, just released a longitudinal study of speeding violators in Maryland exploring whether or not speeding tickets reduce the likelihood of receiving subsequent speeding tickets. Since speeding tickets are the most commonly used tool to deter speeders, the researchers wanted to know how effective speeding citations were on an individual driver's future behavior over time.

The study included 3,739,951 drivers from Maryland and they were followed for 1 year. In Maryland, there are 3 different types of penalties for speeding: 1) fines and points on insurance card, 2) probation before judgement, PBJ (results in fines but no points if no other violation is committed within a 6 to 12 month period) and 3) no legal consequences.

Overall, those drivers who received speeding citations are at an increased risk of receiving subsequent speeding citations which suggest that speeding citations have a limited effect on deterring drivers from speeding again. In comparing different penalties, PBJ is associated with a reduced rate of recidivism more than stronger penalties.The authors suggest that increasing drivers' perceptions that they are at risk of being caught may improve the effectiveness of speeding law enforcement.

To read the entire study, click here.

Injury Prevention Journal: Full Text Archives

2007-03-30T12:36:00.000-07:00

British Medical Journal (BMJ), the parent company of the Injury Prevention Journal, plans on making full-text, archived issues free to view from all of their 23 journals, including the Injury Prevention Journal within the next few months. You will be able to browse all articles over 12 months old, as well as use their folder feature, which allows you to save interesting articles and searches in a personalised folder. You can also sign up to receive new alerts. Registration for the site is required to view the articles and the process only takes a few minutes. Once you fill out the online form, you will immediately be free to search the archive as usual. You may view selected full-text archived articles now but to view the full-text of older articles may take a few months.

The Injury Prevention Journal is a great resource for injury prevention articles and up to date studies on IP methods, practice, and new data.

To register, click here.

National Public Health Week- April 2-8, 2007

2007-03-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

National Public Health Week --- April 2--8, 2007

Since 1995, National Public Health Week has been observed each year during the first week in April. During this year's observance, April 2--8, 2007, American Public Health Association members and partners will host events throughout the United States, encouraging all persons, especially vulnerable populations, to "Take the First Step!" toward creating preparedness plans for public health threats.

In conjunction with the observance, CDC's Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response and Public Health Training Network will host a live satellite broadcast, "Pandemic Influenza: Progress in Planning and Exercising: Federal, State, and Local Perspectives," on April 5, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. EST. A panel will discuss progress in pandemic influenza planning and exercising and answer viewers' questions. The broadcast also will be available as a live webcast.

Additional information regarding the satellite broadcast is available at http://www2a.cdc.gov/phtn. Additional information on National Public Health Week is available at http:\\www.nphw.org.

Prevention Institute Text Published

2007-03-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

The Prevention Institute is proud to announce their new text on primary prevention. Prevention is Primary: Strategies for Community Wellbeing is an academic text co-edited by Larry Cohen and Sana Chehimi of Prevention Institute along with Vivian Chavez of San Francisco State University. Prevention Is Primary aims to move future practitioners from the margins of prevention to its core by defining the elements of quality prevention efforts, identifying best practices and illustrating the application of prevention principles in a multitude of settings.

The text is largely designed for Master’s level public health, public policy and social welfare students to underscore the value and promise of prevention and to frame its practice as a key social and economic justice issue.

To preview the text and/or purchase, click here.

Training: Healthy Intimacy

2007-03-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

Save the Date!

******

Healthy Intimacy: Community Approaches to Reducing STDs, Teen Pregnancy, Intimate Violence and Substance Abuse: A Training for Adults Who Work With Youth

*******

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

8:30 am-3:00pm

Visalia Convention Center, Room San Joaquin A, B, C

303 E. Acequia Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291

******

To Register for this FREE event, call or e-mail Marsha Mauvais at (559) 733-6123 x 209, mmauvais@tularehhsa.org

AJPH: Association of the Built Environment With Physical Activity and Obesity in Older Persons

2007-03-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

The March edition of the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) released a study entitled "Association of the Built Environment with Physical Activity and Obesity in Older Adults." The objective of this study was to examine whether older persons who live in areas that are conducive to walking are more active or less obese than those living in areas where walking is more difficult.

The researchers found that neighborhood characteristics are associated with the frequency for physical activity in older people. The smaller the blocks, the better the street connectivity and the greater the proximity to cluster destinations (restaurants, shops, and grocery stores) results in an increase in walking within the neighborhood. However, whether the frequency of walking reduces obesity prevalence is less clear.

Creating more walkable environments leads to a socially engaging atmosphere which benefits seniors as they are often at risk for social isolation. In terms of injury prevention, walking is a great exercise for older persons and is shown to help maintain functionality and independence.

To read more about the study, click here (must be a AJPH subscriber)

Online Webinar: Preventing Falls and Fractures-How and In Whom?

2007-03-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Center for Injury Research and Control at the University of Pittsburgh is pleased to announce another Online Webinar Series 2007: Injury Control Research Grand Rounds. These FREE, monthly online live Webinars aim to present timely and high-quality injury control research addressing a spectrum of research topics for both intentional and unintentional injuries.

PREVENTING FALLS and FRACTURES~How and in Whom?

Monday, April 2nd, 2007

4:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Presented by:

John Campbell, MD

Professor & Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine

Medicine, Medical and Surgical Sciences

Dunedin School of Medicine

Auckland, New Zealand

Click here for more information

Public Health Grand Rounds

2007-03-15T11:21:00.000-07:00

Public Health Grand Rounds will broadcast "Healthy Places Leading to Health People: Community Engagement Improves Health for All" on May 11, 2007, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST. It is the 28th broadcast in a series dedicated to increasing awareness of today's public health challenges.

Registration for this series is available only on-line at our web site. This includes site registration and participant registration. We open site registration first to ensure that participants will have the option of choosing the site that is most convenient for them. Participant registration is scheduled to begin on March 21, depending upon site registration numbers. Registering your site benefits you as well as your participants. As site facilitator, you will be able to view the list of participants who have registered at your site. And participants will have the opportunity to submit questions for our panelists as well as receive continuing education credit.

If you have questions about the program or registration or if you would like to give us feedback, please contact us at (919) 843-9261 or GrandRounds@unc.edu

For more information and to register, click here

Grant Opportunity: REACH Program Improvement Strategy

2007-03-14T15:50:00.000-07:00

Through the REACH youth initiative, Sierra Health recently awarded Program Improvement grants to eight youth-serving nonprofit organizations in the California Capital Region . These grants help organizations improve the quality of and increase participation in programs focused on youth age 10 to 15. All of the selected programs will actively engage young people and provide opportunities for leadership, team building and decision making. Learn more about REACH: Connecting Communities and Youth for a Healthy Future by clicking here

For the Spring 2007 funding cycle, the deadline for submitting an application is April 13, 2007. Click here for more information

Health Leadership Program

2007-03-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Informational brochures and applications for Health Leadership Class VII, which begins in the fall, will be available in early April. This six-month, intensive course is open to leaders of nonprofit organizations and public agencies whose mission is dedicated to improving health and quality of life in their Northern California communities.

The curriculum, delivered by the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and the Marshall School of Business, is designed to develop highly skilled, motivated and effective leaders who will take what they gain from the course to their organizations and communities.

The ideal candidate:
* leads a health or social services nonprofit organization, public agency or department,
* has tenure of five years or more in an executive management role,
* supervises a team of employees throughout the scheduled Leadership program,
* works for a nonprofit organization or public agency that serves one or more counties in Sierra Health's 26-county funding region, and
* demonstrates the capacity to become a vital leader in the community.

The brochure and application, with further eligibility requirements and information about the program, will be available here.

Sierra Health's Web site. To receive the application and other announcements, join our mailing list by clicking here

Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool Webforum

2007-03-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

The Prevention Institute will hold their first national online webforum on the Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool (ENACT) on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 from 11:00am-12:30 pm PST.

This web-based training will highlight an environmental approach to addressing health concerns related to nutrition and activity and will teach participants how to use ENACT as a planning and assessment tool to guide current and future nutrition and physical activity efforts.

Participants will also learn about best practices and promising approaches to addressing nutrition and activity issues at the local-level.
ENACT (http://www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact) is an interactive online tool designed to help communities improve their local nutrition and physical activity environments by offering a specific menu of achievable strategies in:

-Neighborhoods
-Workplaces
-Healthcare Institutions
-Daycares & Preschools
-Schools
-After-school Programs
-Government Practices

Space in the webforum is limited and will be available on a first come first serve basis, please reserve your space early! Please contact Jesse Appelman to RSVP or with any questions, jesse@preventioninstitute.org

NHTSA Calls For More Crash Tests

2007-03-12T11:18:00.001-07:00

Last week, NHTSA, several automakers, safety advocates, and suppliers convened to talk about changes to the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), which grades new vehicles on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. NHTSA calls for more crash tests including those vehicles equipped with collision avoidance technologies and electronic stability control, which the government has proposed requiring on all new vehicles beginning in 2012. The government predicts that with the aid of electronic stability, roadway injuries and fatalities will decrease substantially. Safety groups also call for more rigorous testing for child safety seats.

To read more, click here

To learn more about NCAP, click here

Older Women Facing Intimate Partner Violence

2007-03-12T10:30:00.000-07:00

In a recent study published in The Gerontologist, 1 in 4 women over the age of 65 have been a victim of partner violence. Of the 370 women surveyed in Washington and Idaho, about 3.5% of respondents have been abused within the last 5 years, and 2.2% within the past year. This study focused on the breadth and impact of the partner abuse on these women. The study showed that about 18% reported sexual or physical abuse and 22% were the victims of psychological abuse, including being threatened, called derogatory names or having their behavior controlled by their partner. Only 3% of respondents said that they have ever been asked by a healthcare provider about physical or psychological abuse at the hands of an intimate partner.

To read the full study, click here (must have a subscription to The Gerontologist)

To read an article written on the study, click here.

Backover Injuries-Data Collection

2007-03-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

Every year, children are injured and killed because drivers (in some cases, parents) don't see them while backing up. Hospitals and trauma centers do not have a method for classifying these types of injuries, thus making it difficult to determine the actual number of accidents as a result of backovers. The San Francisco Injury Center (SFIC) in collaboration with various trauma centers in California, have decided to collect more detailed data. By recording backover events in an accurate manner, we will have a better representation of the actual frequency of these injuries so that we can most efficiently and effectively target our prevention efforts.

To learn more about this project, click here.

To view the SFIC Backover brochures in English, click here.

To vies the SFIC Backover brochures in Spanish, click here.

Workshop:Faith in Violence-Free Families - Building Partnerships for Change

2007-03-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Faith In Violence-Free Families: Building Partnerships for Change, a workshop for Faith Leaders and Domestic Violence Prevention advocates, is being held on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at the Sierra Health Foundation (1321 Garden Highway, Sacramento, CA 95833) from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This workshop will focus on improving and strengthening relationships between faith leaders and domestic violence prevention advocates while discussing strategies to combine resources and expertise to better serve the community.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will received an official Certificate of Completion signed by DHS. 7 contact hours of CEU for MFT/LCSW/RN also available. Registration is $20.00, which covers all meals and materials.

This workshop is held at other CA locations as well (Fresno, Oakland, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Clearlake, Quincy, LA, and Livermore). Click on the link below to find out the date and place you are interested in.

Click here for more information as well as registration.

Childhood Obesity Policy Priorities

2007-03-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

The Public Health Law Program has been funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to design a national legal & policy network to promote nutrition and physical activity advocacy and aid in the prevention of childhood obesity. We need to prioritize our issues so that the network stays focused and targets only the issues that will initially have the greatest impact.

Below is a link to a survey that we want to distribute far and wide so that we can get "insider" input on how best to prioritize the issues the network should focus on. In addition to completing the survey, we kindly ask that you forward the link to as many people as possible who would be appropriate responders: e.g., advocates, academics, elected officials, public agency staff, attorneys, and others who focus on public health and/or nutrition and physical activity. The goal is to get as many responses as we can so that we make the most informed decisions possible.

To take the survey, click here. (Will take approximately 15 minutes)

March: Brain Injury Awareness Month

2007-03-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, which is dedicated to helping the public learn more about brain injury and to improving the lives of persons living with brain injury. "Brain Injury: As Diverse As We Are" is the theme for this year's Brain Injury Awareness Month campaign, which will highlight the diversity of the causes of brain injuries and the persons who sustain them.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), with the support of the CDC is offering educational kits about living with Brain Injuries. The kits are avaliable at BIAA online or by telephone at 1-800-444-6443.

For more resources and information, click here.

Hearing Difficulties put Farmers at Greater Risk of Injury

2007-03-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

The University of Iowas released a study showing that hearing loss puts farmers at a higher risk for suffering injury at work. Farmers have been shown to have one of the highest risks of hearing loss than other American workers. Farmers are also 8 times more likely to suffer a fatal occupational injury than the average American worker as well. The study determined that those farmers who had difficulty hearing normal conversation, were 80% more likely to suffer injuries as a result of a fall on the farm. It seems that wearing a hearing aid was shown to have the highest correlation to work-related injury.

This study stresses the importance of wearing hearing protection since there is often little one can do about the loud conditions on farms created by tractors, combines, livestock, etc.

Click here to read the full article.

MMWR: Rates of Hospitilization Related to TBI

2007-03-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

In the current issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report(MMWR), it reports on a study of Hospitilization rates due to Traumatic Brain Injury(TMI) spanning 9 states in 2003. The study finds that on average, TBI's are associated with an estimated 1.1 million emergency department visits, 235,000 hospitilizations, and 50,000 deaths per year.

The study finds that for all age groups, males have the highest rate of TBI hospital visits (115.1 per 1000,000) and in terms of age, persons aged >75 have the highest rates of TBI hospital visits (287.3 per 100,000). The 2 major causes of TBI-related hospitalizations were associated with unintentional Motor-Vehicle Traffic Incidents (MV-T) and unintentional falls.

The study urges an increased public awareness of TBI and the implementation of prevention measures that focus on the leading causes of TBI (falls, MV-T incidents, and assaults) to reduce the burden of TBI in the US.

To read the MMWR Report, click here.

CMA: California Health System Reform Proposals

2007-03-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

Below is a chart comparing California's Major Health System Reform Proposals. Some of the Proposals include prevention and wellness as a key component to cost-containment. What are your thoughts on the inclusion of prevention in these plans? Conceivably, we may be looking at our future Healthcare System. Which of the 5 different proposals do YOU think would be most effective and why? Please let us know what you think!

Job Opportunity: IP Coordinator

2007-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

The Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in Sonoma County is seeking a full time Injury Prevention Coordinator.

For more details, please go to the CCLDHE website under Employment News or click here.

DCYF: State of the City's Children Summit

2007-02-27T11:24:00.000-08:00

The San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is hosting the State of the City's Children Summit om April 19, 2007 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm at Moscone Center South in San Francisco, California. This summit will bring service providers, city officials, community members and youth leaders together to share, learn, and strengthen our resolve in providing the necessary support and opportunities for our youth and families. The event is FREE but Registration is required.

To view the agenda and register: click here.

Grant Opportunity- Safe Routes to School Mini-Grant

2007-02-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has funded the State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association (STIPDA) to administer a mini-grant program to assist public health professionals to develop a model of how public health professionals can utilize Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) training to strengthen local partnerships and bring together the various organizational entities needed to create successful SRTS programs that are institutionalized within the school system.

Eligible applicants include state and local health department injury prevention programs. State applicants will work with a local community to carry out the mini-grant activities. Depending on the funds available, three to six applicants will be awarded approximately $12,500 each. A subset of the awardees will be randomly selected to each receive approximately $3,000 in additional funds for tools, trainings, and expertise to enhance collaboration while developing their SRTS programs. This latter group of awardees will be assigned a mentor who has extensive experience in SRTS and will be trained to focus more extensively on collaboration and partnerships to ensure long-term coalition/collaborative sustainability.

The mini-grant project period will be one year beginning in June 2007. Letters of intent are due on March 15, 2007, and the Request for Proposals (RFP) deadline is April 10, 2007. The RFP can be downloaded from STIPDA's Web site at http://www.stipda.org/. Should you have any questions, please contact Michelle Wynn at (770) 690-9000 or michelle.wynn@stipda.org

CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference Materials Up

2007-02-22T14:01:00.000-08:00

If you did not get a chance to participate in the CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference Training on state and local policy, you can obtain the speakers' slides either by e-mailing the CIPN project assistant, Vanessa Jew, at vanessa.jew@sfdph.org and requesting the slides or download them at http://www.sfdph.org/CHPP/injury.htm. (Slides are on the left hand side in the gray box)

California Office of Traffic Safety: Summit 2007

2007-02-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

The California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) is proud to present the 17th Traffic Safety Summit on April 9-11, 2007 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California. The Summit provides traffic safety professionals and advocates with innovative, results-oriented solutions to help save lives and reduce injuries and economic losses resulting from motor vehicle crashes. It is a forum to discuss traffic safety trends and developing issues; explore new programs and campaigns; highlight new products and technologies; and network with traffic safety professionals in the field.

For general and registration information, click here.

2007 Senior Injury Prevention Conference

2007-02-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

The 7th Annual Senior Injury Prevention Conference is coming up!

Save the Date-May 10, 2007 from 7:30-4:00pm

Samuel Merritt College Health Education Center

Oakland, California.

This year, the focus of the conference will be on the role of medications in injury. The conference will also explore Injury Prevention Evaluation techniques and Advocacy.

To learn more and to register, click here.

Upcoming Training and Conferences (Child Violence)

2007-02-20T14:43:00.001-08:00

The following trainings and conferences were provided by Safe From the Start (SFTS). SFTS's goal is to reduce children’s' exposure to violence by educating communities of the impact of violence on children and how we can work together to intervene and prevent our children. To sign up for their free mailing list, click here

An Integrated Approach to Childhood Exposure to Violence: Implications for Brain Development
February 23, 2007
Location: Napa
For more information, contact Annie (707) 284-9528 or annalyse.baziuk@sonoma.edu To register, go to http://www.cattacenter.org/ and click on Other Events of Interest.

Kids in Crisis and Communities That Care
April 19, 2007, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Location: Santa Ynez Valley Marriott Hotel, Buellton
Contact: First 5 Santa Barbara County (805) 739-8742

6th Annual Children's System of Care Conference
May 30, 2007
Location: Bahia Resort Hotel, San Diego
Annual conference addresses community awareness and understanding of prevention and early intervention regarding the effects of trauma on children, youth, and young adults. Target audience is mental health professionals, social workers, probation officers, community members and youth.
Contact: Jamie Beam@sdcounty.ca.gov or (858) 514-4770

26th Annual UC Davis Child Abuse & Neglect Conference
September 17-19, 2007
Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento
Contact: Christine Feenstra-Gray Christine.feenstra@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu or register@canconference.com

Intimate Partner Violence In the United States

2007-02-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

The US DOJ Bureau of Justice Statistics has released a new study on intimate partner violence. The study shows that children are residents of households experiencing intimate partner violence in 43% of incidents involving female victims. They found however that the rate of intimate partner violence has declined since 1993. To read the study as well as look at various characteristics of the victims and offenders, click here.

Job Opening: Spanish Project Coordinator: Injury Prevention

2007-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

Click on the document for a larger view of the Job Description and Contact Information.

SJSU MPH Distance Learning Program

2007-02-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Two informational meetings have been scheduled for potential candidates to learn more about the San Jose State University MPH Distance Learning Program. This program was specifically designed for our Health Education practitioners in remote California areas who are unable to participate in campus based MPH programs. For more information about the MPH Distance Learning Program, click here.

Flyers are attached for the following meetings (Click on document to see larger version):

Saturday, February 24, 2007 in Sacramento:

Saturday, March 10, 2007 in Chico:

Better Roadway Designs For Safer Driving

2007-02-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

An study done by the University of Florida determined that certain changes in intersection and roadway design can keep older drivers driving for longer and safer. These changes include wider road shoulders, right turn lanes that allow drivers to merge into traffic without stopping, and angle intersections no sharper than 90 degrees. However, these changes were not only beneficial to drivers 65+ but also to younger drivers including those in the age range of 35-54 (the safest group of drivers).

This is important because in 2003 nearly 1 in 7 licnensed drivers were 65+. By 2029, it is estimated that that porportion will rise to 1 in 4. Although older drivers have lower crash rates, they are the most vulnerable to injury or death becuase of increased fragility. This information is important for city planners looking to improve intersections and roadways.

To read the article, click here

Suggestions for Fellow IP Professional

2007-02-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

Lucille Villalobos, a Health Educator working in the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program in Yolo County, just recently received a grant from OTS to conduct Injury prevention education classes and trainings related to child passenger safety education. She is looking for ideas related to training medical clinics, physician groups, schools, law enforcement and community based organizations. Does any one have some ideas or outreach plans that have successfully been implemented in their community? Please briefly describe your success outcome results and tips as to what action items did not work. Thank you.

To contact Lucille Villalobos, please e-mail her at lucille.villalobos@yolocounty.org

MMWR: Unintentional Poisoning Deaths

2007-02-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

On February 9th, 2007, the CDC released a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) on Unintentional Poisoning Deaths in the United States from 1999-2004. In this 5 year span, the study analyzed and tracked data collected from the National Vital Statistics System. The report determined that from 1999-2004, the mortality poisoning rate increased by 62.5%. The largest increase was seen among females (103%), whites (75.8%), persons living in the southern United States (113.6%) and persons aged 15-24 (113.3%)

The data indicated that the primary increase in the number of deaths were associated with prescription opiod analgesics (oxycodone) and secondly to overdoses in cocaine and prescription psychotherapeutic drugs (sedatives).

The report urges strengthening regulatory measures to reduce unsafe use of drugs, and for state and federal agencies to set up prescription-monitoring programs to identify and stop prescription drug abuse.

To read the MMWR article, click here.

National Child Passenger Safety Week

2007-02-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

National Child Passenger Safety Week, February 11--17, 2007
During 2005, a total of 1,143 motor-vehicle occupants aged <12 years died in motor-vehicle crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Academy of Pediatrics, and CDC recommend that children aged <13 years sit in the back seat of motor vehicles and use age-appropriate restraints. February 11--17 is National Child Passenger Safety Week, when activities are scheduled to stress the importance of age-appropriate seating for children in motor vehicles.

For more information on National Child Passenger Safety Week from NHTSA, click here.

CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference

2007-02-08T15:22:00.000-08:00

REGISTRATION IS STILL AVAILABLE!!!
CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference Training
-February 15, 2007
-1:00-4:00 pm

-The Teleconference Will Include:

1) Why policy is important to your work and how best to communicate with policy makers

2) How to take the next steps to building an advocacy campaign for injury prevention at the local and/or state level

3) Local success stories and model programs

**Free Registration for CIPN members and other interested parties**
***REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED***
Click here for more information.

AJPH: Agricultural Child Labor Laws-Injury Impact

2007-02-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

The study, "Changing the Child Labor Laws for Agriculture: Impact on Injury," published in the February American Journal of Public Health, found that 76% of fatally injured agricultural workers younger than 16 years were working in a family business that was exempt from child labor laws. Every year, more children are fatally injured in agricultural jobs than in any other work environment. Child labor laws designed to protect young children from unsafe and unhealthy work environments are ineffective due to exemptions on family owned farms.

Below are some of the findings of the study:

-86% of injured children were younger than 16 years
-3% of children injured were designated as non-family hired workers
-leading causes of injury resulted from tractors, farm machinery, falls from structures, and livestock
-33% of children working on a family farm were engaged in jobs prohibited by the Hazardous Occupations Orders if the exemption were lifted
-Hypothetically, if the Hazardous Occupations Orders were implemented and enforced on family farms, 34% of work injuries to children could be prevented.

If changes were to be implemented and enforced, it would lead to reductions in injury rates that meet or exceed national health objectives recommended in the Healthy People 2010 initiative. The study urges policy-oriented approaches as the method for enacting change but cites opposition from agricultural organizations as a signifigant barrier.

To read the study, click here -must have subscription to the American Journal of Public Health

AJPH: Lead Exposure in the Homes of Young Children

2007-02-08T12:03:00.000-08:00

The February issue of the American Journal of Public Health published the study "Exposure to Lead and Length of Time Needed to Make Homes Lead-Safe for Young Children," which found that children in Wisconsin with blood lead levels (BLL) of 20 (micro)g/dL or more lived in homes where the median length of time to make the home safe was 465 days or 1.3 years.

This is signifigant because children spend more than 80% of their time indoors. The longer it takes for the home to be deemed lead-safe, the greater the potential hazard to the child. Although abatement orders were sent out, enforcement proved to be very difficult which resulted in 24% of homes requiring more than 18 months before improvements were made. Only 18% of children lived in homes that were rendered lead-safe within six months. White children were more likely than African American children to live in homes that were rendered lead-safe within 6 months (25% vs. 13%) and the majority of African American children lived in urban lower-income communities in which 35% of homes contained lead-based paint hazards compared to that of 19% of upper-income families.

Community efforts made to educate families about lead hazards and incentives for housing owners to join a lead-safe registry have improved the time needed to make homes lead safe but a lot more work needs to be done to reduce delays.

Click here to read the study (subscription to AJPH required)

NY: Ban on Use of Electronic Devices while Crossing Streets

2007-02-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

Senator Carl Kruger of New York has just proposed a new law that would fine pedestrians and bikers $100 dollars if caught using electronic devices such as iPods, cell phones, video games, etc. while crossing the street. Recent deaths of pedestrians being run over by buses and cars while listening to their iPod spurred this bill. The rationale behind the bill is that if you are absorbed in your electronic device while crosssing a street, you are not aware of your surroundings, and injuries may result.

To read about the article in the SF Chronicle, click here

Increase in Girl Soccer Injuries

2007-02-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

In a 14 year study done by the American Journal of Sports Medicine, girls are getting hurt in the sport more than ever before but boys are more likely hospitalized. This increase in injuries sustained by girls are attributed to increase participation in the sport. The injury rate for girls rose from 1.14 per 100,000 to 1.63 per 100,000 over the 14 year span. The injury rates for boys dropped from 2.04 to 1.8 per 100,000. The study shows that overall, girls sustained more ankle and knee injuries and were more likely to have sprains and strains while boys were more likely to sustain injuries to the face, head and neck resulting in hospitalization. The reason for the rise in injuries is not known but researchers speculate that it is because of the improvements in equipment, rules and training of coaches/referees and their ability to recognize and report injuries.

To read the study, click here (Requires subscription to American Journal of Sports Medicine)

Consumer Reports: Car Seats Op-Ed

2007-02-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

On January 28, 2007, the NY Times published a great Op-ed piece about the Consumer Reports car seat safety mistake. It highlights the problems within Consumer Reports and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that has led us to this predicament. The article also offers insight about what both groups can do to better serve consumers. The author, Joan Claybrook, was once the administrator of the NHTSA from 1977-1981. She also served on the board of Consumer Union, which publishes Consumer Reports.

To read this Op-Ed piece, click here.

Antidepressants linked to Increased Falls and Fractures

2007-01-23T12:39:00.000-08:00

Roughly 10% of the American population uses perscription antidepressants. Daily use of the antidepressant medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) such as Zoloft, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and Lexapro, by adults 50 years and older is associated with a doubled risk of some fractures, according to a report in the January 22, 2007 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. The study is based on the evaluation of 5,008 community-dwelling adults 50 years and older who were followed up for over five years for incident fractures. The study also concluded daily SSRI use was associated with increased risk of falls and decreased bone-mineral density. SSRIs can cause a drop in blood pressure and fainting in some people. Those who take the antidepressants regularly and are 50 years and older, are urged to pay attention to lifestyle choices including regular strength training exercises, eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, no drinking and no smoking.

To read the actual study, click here (subscription to Archives of Internal Medicine is necessary)
To read an article on the study, click here

PubMed search for injury articles

2007-01-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

Here is a link to a PubMed search that produces a list of injury-related articles in reverse chronological order. Each time you click on the link, a fresh (updated) search is run.

Method: Each article that is indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE is manually indexed with an average of a dozen or so Medical Subject Headings, drawn from a controlled vocabulary of more than 23,000 such terms (MeSH terms). The broadest MeSH term for injuries is accidents, and searching in PubMed with this MeSH term also captures narrower (more specific) terms such as accident prevention or accidents, traffic. The search strategy is constructed so that accidents is the major topic of the article, and the results are set to be limited to the 100+ "core clinical journals" that the National Library of Medicine has identified among the more than 4,600 journals that it indexes in PubMed/MEDLINE. It produces a long list, but the most recent papers always appear at the top. For a somewhat longer introduction to how PubMed works, see the introduction to my book. If you would like more specific preconstructed searches posted here, let me know.

CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference

2007-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!

CIPN Interactive On-line Teleconference Training

-February 15, 2007

-1:00-4:00 pm

-Gain a Deeper Understanding of Policy as a Tool to Build and Strengthen Injury Prevention Programs

**Free Registration for CIPN members and other interested parties**

***REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED***

Click here for more information.

Grant Proposal Writing Trainings from Feb. 6th-15th, 2007

2007-01-22T12:50:00.000-08:00

Proposal Writing Basics and How to Apply to The James Irvine Foundation's New Connections Fund

Learn valuable proposal writing skills and hear insider tips on how to apply to The James Irvine Foundation's New Connections Fund at this two-part program offered at several sites in California. Thanks to sponsorship from The James Irvine Foundation, this program is offered FREE OF CHARGE, and all attendees will receive a free copy of The Foundation Center's Guide to Winning Proposals II and The Foundation Center's Guide to Proposal Writing.

Click here for more information about the FREE trainings and the Foundation Center.
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GRANT PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS avaliable thru the Nonprofit Resource Center

Basics for Grant Seekers
This workshop will show you a process for researching funders, introduce key reference works, and demonstrate online databases and other research tools. Discover how to find potential grant funders for your nonprofit organization.

Developing Powerful Grant Proposals: An In-Depth Two-Day Training

In this in-depth interactive workshop the training approach largely involves discussing >and learning a theory of resource development that challenges some conventional wisdoms. The presenter shares his more than 30 years of experience on both sides of the “grants’ game.”

For more information, click here