Several local injury prevention partners, including Parachute, are highlighting the impact that injury has on Canadians and the economy.
The group says unintentional injury is the number one cause of death for Canadians ages one through 34, while injury costs the Canadian economy $29.4 billion a year.
“You know the old saying, ‘if you put the money at the front you won’t have to spend it at the back’, this is what we keep telling the Ministry [of Health] that they need to put more money into injury prevention,“ says Pat Cliche, Chair of Ontario Injury Prevention Practitioners. “We’ve advocated that for years and I think that’s what they need to start doing.”
Tuesday, July 5 is National Injury Prevention Day in North Bay and across Canada.
Along with education and advocacy, Parachute is raising awareness about the effects of what they call predictable and preventable injuries.
Scott Tod, Chief of the North Bay Police Service, says they support the day, adding the vast majority of injuries are preventable.
“We ask people that they follow good messaging in regards to safe practices in boating, bicycle riding, snowmobiling, skiing and all of those things,” he says. “We ask them to follow the constant messaging that happens from the police community about how can you be safe at work, play and also in your daily lives.”
Parachute says every day, 48 Canadians die and 634 are hospitalized because of injuries.
