Today The Community Against Preventable Injuries (The Community) launched their year campaign to raise awareness and form a community to prevent the 400,000 injuries suffered by British Columbians [link]. These injuries are also the leading cause of death for individuals for people between the age of one and 44.

The Community is a new organization (businesses, injury prevention organization, government and other individuals)  established to raise awareness, transform social attitudes, and and ultimately change behaviours. Its goal is to significantly reduce the number and severity of preventable injuries in BC.

I myself have been injured in the past during summer work, and like everyone out there, we always feel that injuries can’t happen to us.

For more information on The Community, visit the website at: preventable.ca

Here are some facts as well as an interesting video to launch their campaign.

Magnitude of Injuries: Fact Sheet
THE HUMAN TOLL

• 95% of all injuries are both predictable and preventable
• Preventable injuries are the leading killer of Canadians in the prime of their lives (one to 44 years old)
• More than 400,000 residents of BC are injured each year
• Every hour of every day, 47 British Columbians suffer a preventable injury
• On average, more than 1,200 British Columbians die and more than 27,000 are hospitalized every year
• On a daily basis, over 1,100 British Columbians are injured seriously enough to require medical attention. Of these, approximately four die, 90 are hospitalized and some 27 are left partially or totally disabled
• More children die from injuries than all other causes
• On average, 200 children and youth die from preventable injuries every year
• At least one person dies every day due to a motor vehicle crash in BC