| DHMH Highlights Injury Prevention During National Public Health Week, April 4-10 |
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BALTIMORE (March 31, 2011)--Injuries are one of the most serious and expensive public health problems in Maryland, according to the Department of Heath and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). Unlike other leading causes of death, injury is a risk for all age groups and often can be prevented. The Governor Martin O’Malley has pronounced April 4-10, 2011 as National Public Health Week (NPHW) in Maryland.
"It takes only a moment for an injury to happen," said DHMH Secretary Joshua M. Sharfstein, M.D. "Avoid that moment by doing the little things to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community."
During the week, DHMH encourages Marylanders to learn how to prevent injuries in recognition of this year’s theme, “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury-Free.” Simple actions like buckling up and not using a cell phone while driving, or wearing a helmet while biking, can make everyone’s lives safer.
In Maryland, National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics Systemdata shows that injuries are:
To visualize the impact of injuries in Maryland, the M&T Bank Stadium holds 68,915 people according to their website. In 2008, there were 514,603 injury-related hospital emergency department visits, 60,139 injury-related hospitalizations and 3,551 injury-related deaths in Maryland, according to DHMH's Injuries in Maryland Report. Added together, those people could fill the stadium eight Sunday afternoons!
These cases cost over $217 million in emergency department charges and $855 million in hospitalization, according to the DHMH's Injuries in Maryland Report. However, the injury burden goes beyond the hospital costs to include lost time from work and activities, and the additional cost of legal and rehabilitation services. Injuries also can leave a lifetime of physical and emotional scars among injured persons and their families.
Scientific studies have shown that most injuries are not accidental, unavoidable occurrences—but actually events that are preventable and predictable. You can protect yourself, your family and community by taking action to prevent injury and violence:
To learn more about how you can prevent injuries visit http://fha.maryland.gov/ohpetup/eip.cfm. For NPHW activities in your area, contact your local health department or visit www.dhmh.maryland.gov and click on National Public Health Week under “Hot Topics.”
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