Page 23 - Big Book of Accident Prevention
P. 23
Accident prevention links 23 to public health responsibilities The 2011 white paper, “Healthy lives, healthy people: update and the way forward”, outlined 17 public health responsibilities for local authorities. Accident prevention programmes can make a significant contribution to the delivery of the vast majority of these responsibilities. This table shows the connections between accident prevention and each of the responsibilities. The 17 public health responsibilities for local Accident prevention Relevant connection The 17 public health responsibilities for local Accident prevention Relevant connection authorities, as outlined in the “Healthy lives, agenda authorities, as outlined in the “Healthy lives, agenda healthy people: update and way forward” healthy people: update and way forward” white paper, July 2011 white paper, July 2011 Tobacco control Fire safety. In 2008, 2,800 house fires Local initiatives on workplace health Opportunities to use existing RoSPA were caused by smoking, killing 101 initiatives, e.g. Safety Groups UK – a nationwide network of health and people and injuring more than 900. safety groups whose secretariat is Alcohol and drug misuse services A strong correlation exists between provided by RoSPA. accidental injury and alcohol and Supporting, reviewing and challenging delivery Opportunity to include safety messages drug misuse. of key public health funded and NHS delivered alongside health information. Obesity and community nutrition initiatives Encouraging physical activity is likely services such as immunisation programmes to increase accident rates unless Comprehensive sexual health services Opportunity to include safety messages prevention advice is included. young people – a particularly vulnerable Increasing levels of physical activity in the local Encouraging physical activity is likely alongside sexual health information for prevention advice is included. population to increase accident rates unless group in terms of accidents. Local initiatives to reduce excess deaths Connected to RoSPA campaigns on as a result of seasonal mortality issues such as slips, trips and falls among Assessment and lifestyle interventions as part Should include emphasis on changing manner, e.g. cycling safety. conditions, and drowning of young of the NHS Health Check Programme lifestyles in a safe and responsible the elderly, driving safety in winter people in hot weather. Public mental health services Feedback from many accident Role in dealing with health protection incidents These could be used as a vehicle to prevention programmes shows that they and emergencies as described in Annex B of the disseminate safety information to the empower people, through knowledge, to make their own decisions. “update and way forward” document public – particularly vulnerable groups. Dental public health services Up to 50 per cent of children sustain an Promotion of community safety, violence Close connection with other safety injury to the mouth by the time they leave school. In older children most prevention and response initiatives including with small children, young adults and young drivers. of these are caused by falls and sporting accidents. Local initiatives to tackle social exclusion Opportunity to connect with socially Accidental injury prevention See case studies for examples excluded people on a topic which is of successful implementation. of interest and value to them, opening doors for wider conversations. Population level interventions to reduce Opportunity in pre-natal classes and prevent birth defects to educate expectant mothers on dangers faced by their babies, particularly in the first five years. Behavioural and lifestyle campaigns to prevent Connected to healthy lifestyles, exercise cancer and long term conditions and outdoor activity, which include the need to take sensible precautions to reduce accidental injury. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
