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.
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
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
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.