Safety and Injuries

Injury is a serious public health issue with a major impact on the lives of Canadians. It is the leading cause of death of children and young adults and is among the leading causes of hospitalization for children, young adults and seniors. Injury is also a major cause of long and short-term impairment and disability for Canadians. (Source: "Injury Surveillance in Canada: Current Realities, Challenges" Health Canada 2003)

Defining Injury

An injury is the physical damage that results when the body is suddenly subjected to levels of energy beyond the body's ability to absorb, or the result of a lack of vital elements such as air, water or warmth.

Injuries can be either intentional or unintentional:

• Intentional injuries are either self-directed (such as suicide or self harm) or directed at others (family violence, child abuse, assault, murder).
• Unintentional injuries are just that -- unintended and result from such events as motor vehicle collisions, falls, fires and poisonings.

Injuries differ from other diseases in that they have an immediate onset. An individual goes from being perfectly healthy one minute and seconds later is injured, disabled or fatally wounded. You may know injuries as "accidents," but injuries are preventable. The term "accident" is misleading as it suggests nothing could have been done.

Health Canada's Role

Health Canada works with partners across Canada including the Public Health Agency of Canada, public health units, hospitals, academic institutions, law enforcement and not-for-profit and voluntary organizations dedicated to safety promotion and injury prevention. Health Canada is involved in various aspects of injury prevention and safety promotion such as:

• National injury surveillance and research;
• Product safety -- under the authority of the Hazardous Products Act;
• Information and messages for public awareness and knowledge; and
• Injury prevention programs directed at parts of the population that are at higher risk of injury (children, First Nations and Inuit and seniors).

Once an injury occurs, it is usually the health system that is involved in treatment and rehabilitation. But safety and injury prevention is applicable in every aspect of our lives; at home, at work, on our roads, in our playgrounds and sport facilities and in our natural environments.

Related Resources

• Video: Holiday Safety