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