Injury Prevention Education
Prevent injuries and save lives through data, education, and partnerships
Overview
Injuries are a leading cause of death for Alaskans ages 5 to 54. This includes unintentional and intentional injuries. These injuries can lead to disability and death. Common causes of injuries for Alaskans include the following:
- Falls
- Drug overdoses and non-drug poisonings
- Transportation accidents (including motor vehicles, snow machines, and ATVs)
- Drownings
- Suicide and self-harm
- Assaults
We can prevent most injuries.
What you can do
People
- Prevent falls at home with safety features like stair gates and window guards
- Stay active as you age to prevent falls, with activities like walking, strength and balance exercises, gardening, or dancing
- Use child safety seats
- Make sure kids wear appropriate helmets for sports, bikes, ATVs, and snowmachines
- Store unloaded firearms in locked locations, away from children and others
- Wear a life vest when on the water and use Kids Don’t Float loaner boards
- Wear a life vest when on the water and use Kids Don’t Float loaner boards
Communities and Health Care Providers
- Request free awareness materials from the Poison Control Hotline: 1-800-222-1222
- Teach patients about medication safety, car seat use, helmet use, gun locks and wearing a life jacket
- Educate families on concussion signs (for example, headache, dizziness, memory loss) and when to seek medical care and make a referral to the Youth Brain Injury Program.
Everyone
- Join the Injury Prevention listserv at list.state.ak.us for updates and resources
Partnerships
Publications
Falls Prevention
Tools, guides, and checklists to help keep people healthy and safe at home.
Falls Prevention
Tools, guides, and checklists to help keep people healthy and safe at home.
- Fall Prevention Checklist – helps identify fall risks in the
home. - Emergency Information Sheet – that can be filled out and
hung on the fridge so emergency responders can find
important information quickly. - Pet Safety brochure – enjoy the benefits of pets while staying
safe from falls. - Workout to Go
The Workout to Go activity book is a guide to help Alaska
adults stay physically active to improve their strength,
balance, and flexibility, as well as prevent falls.