How to prevent traumatic injuries: auto crashes, falls & drowning

“Knowing that all motor vehicle crashes are preventable makes the high number of injuries and deaths in B.C. each year even more devastating,” says Dr. Michael Christian, Provincial Medical Director, Trauma Services BC.

“Having a plan and thinking ahead is an easy first step. Keep a basic emergency kit in your vehicle, and be aware of your driving behaviour: avoid driving when you’re tired, leave your cell phone alone, and if you’re a passenger, don’t distract the driver.”

Check your driving behaviour:

• Are you a distracted driver?
  • Avoid driving when tired
  • Leave your cell phone alone
  • Do your grooming at home – not behind the wheel
• Are you a distracting passenger? Don’t draw the driver’s attention away from the road.

Keep a basic emergency kit in your trunk: Have items in it to be prepared for emergencies, and stay warm and hydrated if you have to wait for help.

• Basic first aid kit with manual
• Flashlight with extra batteries, or hand-crank flashlight/radio
• Fire extinguisher - ABC type
• Booster cables
• Survival blanket, warm clothing
• Bottled water and non-perishable high energy foods

Learn more at ICBC Road Safety and Road Safety at Work.

“We know that falls are the leading cause of injury for seniors in B.C., and can lead to hospitalization and loss of independence,” says Kelly Wilson, Improvement Consultant, Fall and Injury Prevention at Interior Health.

While the highest percentage of falls are caused by simply slipping, tripping and stumbling, the good news is that many falls are preventable.

Adds Kelly: “Older adults need to maintain their muscle strength and balance – this means spending less time sitting and more time moving, every day. We also recommend getting a pharmacist to check their medications, having their eyes checked each year, and taking steps to make their homes safer by clearing pathways, removing rugs, and adding railings, grab bars and non-slip mats.”

Stay active: A senior isn’t as likely to fall if they have strong muscles and good balance. Encourage activities that improve balance and mobility. 

Have your eyes checked annually: Vision impairments are a leading cause of falls. Eyes should be checked by an optometrist at least once a year. 

Check medications: Ensure your loved one checks in with their doctor or pharmacist, and tells them if their medications are making them drowsy or dizzy.

Make your home safer:

• Have grip bars installed in the shower or bath
• Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors
• Ensure rooms, halls and staircases are well lit
• Wear shoes with good rubber soles inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing loose slippers.

You can learn more about how to prevent a fall by visiting our Seniors Health Services page or the SeniorsBC website.

Drowning can happen quickly and quietly. In B.C., the greatest number of drowning deaths occur among males in natural water. Even surviving a near-drowning experience can have serious consequences. Among the survivors of near-drowning, 20 per cent sustain permanent brain damage.

“Drowning deaths are always devastating, and so many involve small children,” says Dr. David Evans, trauma surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital. “Parents need to be present and vigilant when kids are around water.”

Educate yourself and your family:

• Enrol yourself and your child in swimming lessons. Taking 20-30 hours of lessons can give most children and adults basic swimming skills. That’s roughly two lessons a week, for six weeks.
• Learn CPR and/or lifesaving techniques

Act responsibly:

• Supervise children in and around water
• Wear an approved personal flotation device or lifejacket on a boat, at the beach, or at the lake

Learn more about how to prevent drowning:

• View our blog post: Play safe this summer: drowning prevention
• Visit the following webpages:
  • Lifesaving Society BC
  • Canadian Red Cross
  • Parachute Canada

Trauma Awareness Week runs from July 4 to 8 and provides an opportunity to share strategies for preventing traumatic injuries.

Story author:

Trauma Services BC is responsible for ensuring the optimal performance of B.C.’s trauma system, and aims to improve the quality of and access to trauma care in B.C. by integrating trauma services throughout the province. This ensures a flexible response to trauma cases from all health-care facilities and providers that ensures standardized quality care for trauma patients.

View the Trauma Services BC fact sheet