News Release
Alberta Injury Control Strategy presented to Standing Policy Committee
For immediate release Edmonton, November 14, 2003 The Alberta Injury Control Strategy (AICS) provides a framework to guide effective planning and implementation of injury control initiatives among all stakeholders in Alberta. The AICS was developed with the assistance of an Advisory Steering Committee and reviewed and validated by stakeholders across the province through regional and provincial consultation sessions. The strategy was presented to the Standing Policy Committee (SPC) on Health and Community Living on November 12, 2003 by the CoChairs of the AICS Steering Committee, in search of government policy support to position Alberta as a leader in injury control in Canada. Injuries in Alberta are unacceptably high with Alberta having one of the highest rates in Canada. They are the leading cause of death for Albertans aged one to 44 years and the greatest killer of our children. Given these concerns, a broad range of stakeholders involved in the field of injury control came together to develop a coordinated and collaborative strategy to address injury control in Alberta. Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, Co-Chair of the AICS Advisory Committee is confident that the strategy can improve the lives of Albertans. “If injuries are to be reduced, all stakeholders, including the provincial government and the public at large, need to be committed to this strategy,” says Dr. Francescutti. The strategy focuses on making Alberta the safest place to live through seven strategic goals which focus on reducing the frequency and severity of injuries in Alberta, reducing the impact of and improving the outcomes for those affected by injury, and engaging Albertans in making the injury issue a priority. “The presentation to the Standing Policy Committee is the first step in obtaining government commitment and funding support for the strategy,’ says Co-Chair, Mr. Richard Ramsay. “We are hopeful that the government will adopt a clear public policy position that supports the Alberta Injury Control Strategy and its implementation.” Alberta’s injury challenge is significant! Five recommendations from the strategy are key to its implementation, including the need to enhance provincial coordination and collaboration for injury control; develop and sell the business case to reinforce the cost benefits of effective injury prevention programs, followed by effective treatment, management and rehabilitation; develop an implementation plan; facilitate stakeholder development of injury control plans; and, monitor implementation and report progress. Now is the time to make Alberta the safest place to live! -30For copies of the full report or executive summary, contact the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research (ACICR) at ph: 780-492-6019 or acicr@ualberta.ca. Website: www.med.ualberta.ca/acicr.
For more information contact: Co-Chairs, Alberta Injury Control Strategy Advisory Committee: Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti Director, ACICR Ph: 780-492-6019 Mr. Dick Ramsay Chair, ACICR Advisory Body Ph: 403-220-5031
Backgrounder on the Alberta Injury Control Strategy (AICS)
History of the Albert a Injury Control Strategy (AICS) Over the past two years, there has been increasing support within the injury control community for the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research (ACICR) to facilitate the development of a provincial injury control strategy. The Alberta Injury Control Strategy (AICS) was developed from examining existing related strategies, provincial community consultations, and with the partnership of an Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from all four corners of the injury control model: prevention, emergency response, acute care, and rehabilitation. In November 2002, after extensive community consultations were held across Alberta, the summit was held in Edmonton to develop the foundation of the Alberta Injury Control Strategy. This lead to the development of stakeholder working groups who identified further issues in reviewing the strategy. The comprehensive AICS document was finalized in April 2003 and produced in June 2003. Mission Contribute to a healthy Alberta and healthy Albertans by: -Reducing the frequency and severity of injuries in Alberta -Reducing the impact of and improving the outcomes for those affected by injury -Engaging Albertans in making the injury issue a priority Vision Making Alberta the safest place to live Values and Underlying Principles -Holistic focus on people and their environments -Injury prevention focus and attitude -Shared responsibility and accountability -Coordination and collaboration -Competency and capacity -Optimal programs and services -Quality data Strategic Goals of the AICS 1. Increase the awareness and commitment of Albertans to injury prevention. 2. Promote the development and enforcement of health public policies and legislation aimed at injury prevention. 3. Build and sustain the capacity and capability to deliver effective injury prevention programs. 4. Increase the availability of and access to comprehensive provincial injury surveillance data. 5. Increase research and program evaluation on injury cases, injury programs and practices. 6. Optimize emergency response, acute care and rehabilitation services to those who are affected by injury. 7. Strengthen partnerships among injury control stakeholders.
Key data points: 1. Injuries are the leading cause of death for Albertans younger than 44 years of age and the greatest killer of our children.1 2. Four Albertans die everyday from injuries. 2 3. In 1997, preventable unintentional injuries cost the people of Alberta $1.8 billion, or $662 for every citizen.3 Falls accounted for $549 million or 30 per cent of the total amount. Motor vehicle crashes cost $400 million or roughly 22 per cent of the $1.8 billion. Injuries in Alberta continue to produce great costs in terms of both human suffering and economic costs. 4. Falls, motor vehicle collisions, fire, suffocation, suicide and self-inflicted injury are major causes of injury death. 4
Next steps for the AICS From coordinated efforts with injury control partners in Alberta, the common thread has been to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries and optimize the treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. Many injury control initiatives are based on changing the behavior of target audiences. To effectively generate behavioral change, programs and initiatives must have long-term timeframes in order to create sustainability and achieve desired outcomes. The AICS will help guide effective planning and implementation of injury control initiatives among all stakeholders in the injury control field in Alberta. If injuries are to be reduced, all stakeholders, including the provincial government and the public at large, also need to be committed to this strategy. First and foremost, injuries need to be prevented if Albertans are to enjoy safe and healthy lives. However, when injuries do occur, Albertans need to be assured that they receive optimal care and rehabilitation to enable reintegration into their homes, communities and workplaces.
1 2
ACICR, Death Database, 1997. ACICR, Personal Communication, K. Borden, 2002. 3 ACICR, The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Alberta, 2002 4 Alberta Injury Control Strategy, June 2003.