November

Falls Prevention Month

November is Falls Prevention Month across Canada. The campaign provides seniors and practitioners with the latest information and resources to help reduce the risk of falling and encourage seniors to live an active and independent lifestyle.

3 December

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations.

Why Injury Prevention?

Injury sounds relatively benign – a broken arm, a twisted ankle, a strained muscle. But an injury can also mean something much more permanent: damage to your brain or spine; concussion; a broken neck. An injury can change your life forever. An injury can kill you.

In Alberta, people ages 10 to 49 are most at risk of dying of injury. Living with an injury means you might not be able to work or do the activities you enjoyed before your injury. Being injured may cause you and your family financial stress.

Beyond the personal costs, injuries cost Alberta's health system about $5 billion each year.

The total estimated costs for injuries in Alberta so far in 2025:

The solution?

Taking steps to reduce injury does not mean covering ourselves in bubble wrap; avoiding all risk. Albertans are risk takers – that’s what makes Alberta the province it is. Rather, preventing injury means using the evidence we have to take the measures we know will save lives and prevent Albertans from getting hurt.

Injury prevention strategies work. Using items like seatbelts, bike helmets, and smoke alarms saves lives and prevents injuries.1 The Injury Prevention Centre works with communities to identify injury problems. We then provide knowledge, tools, and support for the community to take action to reduce injuries.

"Prevention is one of the few known ways to reduce demand for health care services.”

Julie Bishop

Injury prevention starts with you!2

  • Get training.
  • Wear the gear.
  • Stay focused and in control.
  • Understand the risks.
  • Plan for emergencies.

The injury burden in numbers.

(on average, per year in Alberta)

$5 billion

HEALTHCARE DOLLARS

2,300

INJURY DEATHS

9,000

DISABLLING INJURIES

38,000

HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS

496,215

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS

What we do.

Working with the most current injury prevention data and research, the Injury Prevention Centre connects and engages with community practitioners, partners, and Albertans to take actions to address injury issues.

Our Mission: The Injury Prevention Centre will lead the reduction of catastrophic injuries and deaths in Alberta. We will be a catalyst for action by supporting communities and decision-makers with knowledge and tools. We will raise the profile of preventing injuries as an important component of life-long health and wellness.

“Injury has been described, until recently, as the ‘neglected disease’ because it occurs in such great numbers but has been tacitly accepted as a normal occurrence of living in a modern society.”

David A Sleet

We support communities with:

  • resources on a variety of injury topics
  • injury prevention networking and information sharing
  • programs that address seniors falls, poisoning, youth and child concussions and head injuries
  • education opportunities on injury prevention and associated topics
  • expertise in community engagement, resource development, program planning, implementation, and evaluation

Our current priorities.

  • Address emerging injury issues with consideration of the unique Alberta context.
  • Increase awareness about preventable injury in Alberta.
  • Reduce the incidence and severity of falls among older adults.
  • Reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional poisoning among Albertans.
  • Reduce the incidence and severity of unintentional injuries among Alberta's children and youth.

References

1 Richmond SA, Carsley S, Prowse R, Manson H, Moloughney B. How can we support best practice? A situational assessment of injury prevention practice in public health. BMC Public Health. 2020 Apr 3;20(1).

2 Mittelmark, MB. The Psychology of Social Influence and Healthy Public Policy. Preventive Medicine 29, S24–S29. 1999.

These Lands.

The University of Alberta, its buildings, labs, and research stations are primarily located on the territory of the Néhiyaw (Cree), Niitsitapi (Blackfoot), Métis, Nakoda (Stoney), Dene, Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and Anishinaabe (Ojibway / Saulteaux), lands that are now known as part of Treaties 6, 7 and 8 and homeland of the Métis. The University of Alberta respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.

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