The primary goals of the MCH’s trauma program are to provide world class care to trauma patients thanks to a dedicated multi-disciplinary team AND to prevent trauma and injury among children and adolescents through community outreach, education, and lobbying.
Trauma and Injury Prevention at the Children’s
- 90% of injuries are preventable
- Dynamic program involves: injury prevention recommendations; development of educational resources; public awareness; community out-reach; partnership development; networking; knowledge sharing(website); and research.
- Close affiliation with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program.
- Our approach balances activity while promoting awareness of risks encouraging informed choices
- Acknowledged by accrediting bodies as the leaders in Quebec (only comprehensive program of its kind at a pediatric hospital)
- Education about reducing the risks of injury through partnerships and diffusions of key messages to community MDs, health professionals, schools, summer camps, sports associations, community organizations, and policy makers
- Primary Prevention – Outreach events
- Press conferences Presentations & talks
Conferences
Schools (high school, CEGEP)
Summer camps
Sporting associations (coaches, parents, athletes, trainers)
Community Physicians
Northern Community projects
Salon Maternité-Paternité
Osler Medical School Volunteer Program In-house prevention days
Car seats clinics
Community events
Sports tournaments
Bike rodeos
Ski days - Award-winning website
- ARRIVE ALIVE TEEN PROGRAM (2015-16):
- Funding from Aviva Insurance Company
- Video presentation followed by interactive discussion and demonstration
- Designed to encourage teens to be informed, reflect on risks and make smart choices
- The theme of shared responsibility and impact on family, and community – permeates the discussion
Plans in place for parent presentations Accomplishments
- Advocating for legislation and regulations: – “no checks to the head” rule (hockey)
– reduce head-to-head contact (football)
– enforce rules
– respect and fair play
– protective equipment
– skill training
– encouraging environmental measures - Legislation and regulations
“no checks to the head” rule (hockey) reduce head-to-head contact (football) trampoline ban from schools
ban on baby walkers
helmet legislation
reduction of legal BAC in Quebec
turban safety in soccer
diving boards in municipal parks - Legislation and regulations
- anchoring soccer nets
- playground equipment
- removing Brault and Martineau ad showing an unattended baby on a washing machine
- mandatory fencing surrounding all home swimming pools
- conditions of terrain
- toy recalls & testing
- helmets for go-karting
- Thanks to its leadership role as an advocate for trauma prevention, the MCH has been able to help implement a number of measures aimed at decreasing trauma and injuries among young people
- These efforts have led to a lessening in the severity of trauma cases seen at the hospital
Challenges
- New trauma risks arise continuously, requiring constant updating of educational information (brochures, website, etc.) and proactive lobbying with all levels of government and larger associations
- With limited resources available, efforts are concentrated on organizations with the most potential impact on large numbers of peopleAnnual Budget ($135,000)
- An amount of $100,000 per year is required to simply maintain the programs ongoing activities in terms of community outreach, government relations and education
- A further $35,000 is needed to publish the third edition of the hospital’s widely distributed “Concussion Kit”