Approximately 95% of all injuries are both predictable and preventable, yet, every 10 minutes someone visits an emergency department in Niagara because of an injury.
Injuries include all the ways people can be physically hurt, impaired or killed, involving unintentional or intentional damage to the body.
- Unintentional injuries include motor vehicle collisions, falls, sport injuries and unintentional poisoning.
- Intentional injuries include those resulting from violence. Injuries often require hospitalization, medical treatment and rehabilitation which largely impacts individual independence and burdens families and caregivers.
In Niagara region falls are the number one cause of injury for those ages 0-14 and over 60, while motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of injury for ages 15-59.
Social and physical environments where people live and income are among the factors which contribute to the occurrence of injuries. By recognizing, changing, and controlling these factors, most injuries can be prevented.
The following initiatives are in place to address Niagara's injury concern:
The LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) has established an Aging at Home Strategy which focuses on maintaining senior's health, independence and aging at home including falls prevention.
The Regional Niagara Road Safety Committee has worked with the Niagara community to deliver the Think and Drive communication campaign which increased awareness and knowledge of road safety issues and personal risk factors. This committee is identifying new partners and focusing on collecting and sharing all data related to personal injury and motor vehicle collisions on all Niagara roads.
Every Niagara resident should be able to live, work and play in safe environments.
Top 5 Injury Priorities
Top 5 injury priorities in the Niagara region
| |
0-4 yrs |
5-14 yrs |
15-19 years |
20-59 years |
Ages 60+ |
| 1 |
Falls |
Falls |
Car crashes |
Car crashes |
Falls |
| 2 |
Violence |
Pedal cycle |
Self-harm |
Self-harm |
Car crashes |
| 3 |
Hurt by an object |
Sport / recreation |
Pedal cycle |
Falls |
Poisoning |
| 4 |
Poisoning |
Off road vehicle |
Sport / recreation |
Violence |
Self-harm |
| 5 |
Car crashes |
Hurt by an object |
Violence |
Poisoning |
Hurt by an object |
Sources: Injuries 2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
Injury priorities
The top 5 injury priorities can be broken down by age group to determine what types of injuries affect each age group the most. In doing so, similarities and differences between age groups are easily identifiable.
Injury from falls is a major priority area. All age groups, except for those aged 15-19 report falls as one of the top 5 injury priorities, with three of the age groups reporting it as the number one priority.
Injury from car crashes is another major priority with four of the five age groups reporting it as one of the top 5. Interestingly, people aged 15-19 as well as those age 20-59 report car crashes as their number one priority area.
Other priority areas that are shared between three or more age groups consist of violence, hurt by an object, poisoning and self-harm.
Of note, those aged 5-14, are the only ones to report injury from off road vehicles as one of the top 5 injury priorities.
Road and Off Road Safety
Road and off road injuries (counts) by age category
| |
0-4 yrs |
5-14 yrs |
15-19 yrs |
20-59 yrs |
60+ yrs |
| Deaths |
* |
* |
21 |
82 |
31 |
| PYLL (years) |
* |
* |
1207 |
3113 |
115 |
| Emergency dept visits |
185 |
937 |
2129 |
11405 |
2118 |
| Hospitalizations |
5 |
72 |
138 |
796 |
329 |
| Length of stay (days) |
13 |
462 |
947 |
6683 |
2110 |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
Sources: Road and off safety, 2003-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
Deaths and Potential Years Life Lost
82 deaths and 3,113 Potential Years Life Lost occurred among those aged 20-59 due to road and off-road injuries between 2003 and 2007. This was the highest count for both variables between the age categories. Data was limited for the age groups of 0-4 years and 5-14 years and therefore could not be reported.
Emergency department visits and hospitalizations
Road and off-road injuries account for a large number of emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 11,405 emergency department visits occurred among those aged 20-59 between 2003 and 2007, which resulted in 796 hospitalizations and 6,683 hospitalization days.
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