News Feature                   For Immediate Release

April 26,  2004

Media Awarded for Partnering to Prevent Injuries

Bluewater Community Radio and the Hanover Post received top recognition in Chesley today for their participation in the “No More Accidents” media challenge sponsored by Public Health.  The two media outlets received awards for doing an outstanding job replacing the word "accident" with more descriptive words such as injury, incident, crash and collision.  These words more accurately portray the predictable and preventable nature of most injuries.  Among those participating in the 12-week media scan were the New NX, Bayshore Broadcasting, Life 100.3, and CKNK radio. 

Two guest speakers shared their professional and personal experiences with injury.   Dr. Don Eby, Emergency Physican and Coroner in Owen Sound, gave a local perspective.   Andrian Diehlman, from the National Injury Prevention Organization Smartrisk, shared with the group how a preventable injury has changed his life forever.  Deihlman often speaks with young people and encourages them to “Buckle up, look first, wear the gear, get trained and to drive sober.”

Why should we rethink the use of the word accident? "It just helps to remind us that most injuries are predictable and preventable," says Sandy Rennick, Public Health Nurse, "The word accident tends to imply that an injury is an act of fate when, in fact, nine out of ten injuries are predictable and preventable."

“Injuries kill more young people aged 1-19 than all other causes of death combined and Bruce and Grey counties have the second and third highest rates of hospitalization due to falls in seniors respectively in Ontario,” adds Rennick. 

For more information call Public Health at 376-9420.  If you would like to add your support or comment on this campaign, visit www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca and click on Injuries: The Silent Epidemic in the Injury Prevention section.

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Attachments:

Photo of Dr. Don Eby presenting

For more information:

Marguerite Thomas

Public Health Nurse, Injury Prevention Team

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920 Ext. 246

Ext. 246