The Importance Of Injury In Australia

An injury is classified as an external force (event) which causes physical harm to an individuals body. Minor injuries could lead to repairable damage, while more serious conditions may lead to reduced functioning of the body, permanent disability or in some cases death. Injuries may be accidental such as:
Motor vehicle accidents - Burns
Drownings - Sporting injuries
Falls - Poisoning
Or they could be intentional, these include
Suicide - Self harm
Domestic violence - Assault/ murder

The extent of the problem In 2009 and 2010, Australia recorded over 7.6% of deaths in relation
to injuries, this resulted in injuries being one of the leading cause of mortality within Australia with 1/3 of male deaths and 2/3 of female deaths occurring in the elderly population. In 2014, Australia’s health stated that injury accounted for almost 5% of all hospitalisations in 2010 and 2011, with an estimated 438,000 individuals being admitted and treated for an injury related cause. However since 2004 injury related hospitalisations have slowly risen by 1% each year and are expected to keep rising Males have a higher risk of being hospitalised from injuries than females. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders were 2 times more likely to be hospitalised (3,838) than other non-indigenous Australians (1,897) as a result from an injury. Injuries are the highest cause of death in those under 35 years of age. However Injuries are the single biggest killer of Australian youth, it has a higher percentage than all other causes combined. Although the injury death rate for the indigenous youth is 5 times greater than non-indigenous youth and low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to suffer from a serious injury than in comparison to individualsfrom a higher socioeconomic background. The three major forms of injuries were from falls (40%), unintentional injuries (33%) and transport injuries (12%). Injuries as a result of falls have dramatically increased with it still expect to grow over the coming years due to Australia having an ageing population, where individuals are expected to work much longer than earlier years.
Sociocultural determinants include family, peers, culture, religion and the media. The media has played a vital role in helping address many of the injury related mortality and morbidity issues, including road safety and mental health issues. However peers are the most influential towards an individuals behaviour and attitudes. For example: Males between the ages of 17 and 21 have been shown to be more risky than other age groups. This can be linked to speeding or doing other illegal actions on the road as there peers have peer pressured them into doing risky behaviours for “fun”. This leaves them at a higher risk of experiencing an injury.
Socioeconomic

Socioeconomic determinants include: employment, education and income.
An individuals socioeconomic determinants are highly influential towards developing an injury. For example: Individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged (less educated and have a lower income) are less likely to purchase safety devices or new model cars which have higher road safety ratings as they are unaware of the safety they bring, as they are less educated than other Australians. This is one of the reasons why they have a higher risk of serious injury. By targeting the socioeconomically disadvantaged we can begin to implement more preventable health promotions in these areas and reduce the amount of
injuries

Environmental

Environmental determinants include geographical location and working conditions. Environmental determinants have dramatically helped in decreasing the amount of injuries we see. By improving the physical environmental in which we inhabit , such as building better infrastructures (roads and homes) we can reduce the amount of injuries seen. Examples include: pool fences, smoke alarms, scaffolding on rooftops and safety latches, all these have helped reduce and prevent the amount of injuries seen in society.

Risk factors and protective factors

Injuries have a significant impact on Australia’s health care system and in particular hospitals much of which can be preventable. In relation to injuries there are specific sets of risk factors which dramatically increase an individuals risk of experiencing an injury. Prevention strategies are enforced to help protect many individuals from injury but to also reduce the stress on our hospitals.

Self harm and suicide risk factors include
Mental health problems (depression)
High levels of unemployment
Drug use
Troubling realtionships
Powerlessness to seek support
Protective factors include:
Creating a positive environment for the individual
Seeking employment
Developing a positive attitude and sense of self

Road traffic accident risk factors include:
Speeding - Overloading
Not wearing a seatbelt - Fatigue
Drink driving - Texting
Protective factors include:
Wearing a seatbelt
Doing the speed limit
Not drinking and driving (getting a taxi)
Placing mobile phone out of sight
Driving to the conditions (slowing down when wet)

Groups at risk

Groups at higher risk for injury than other ordinary Australians include:
Young children
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience higher rates of transport, violence, falls and drug related injuries The elderly Individuals under the age of 35
Individuals who work in high risk jobs (roofers)
Unsafe drivers
People in rural and remote areas
Socioeconomically disadvantaged people
By recognising who's at most risk we can focus on initiating preventive measures where they are most needed, in the hope of reducing the amount of injuries

Why has injury been chosen as a highly preventable health problem?

Injury has an enormous impact on Australia's health care system and in particular hospitals, much of which can be prevented.
It has been chosen as a highly preventable health problem as many injuries can quite easily be prevented if we implement many safe precautions such as making hardness wearing compulsory for individuals working in height jobs or promoting road safety and the consequences of not following the road rules to individuals, In the hope they change there attitudes towards the road.

Get your hand off it!
What is it and what is it’s main aim?

The get your hand off it campaign was first lunched in mid June of 2013 as a short 3 minute youtube video exploring the consequences of using your mobile phone whilst driving. From there it has grown to tv commercials, advertisements and educational talks at schools. It’s main aim was and still is to decrease the number of individuals illegally using a mobile phone when driving. The campaign challenges the excuses drivers come up with to justify their illegal use of a mobile phone whilst driving. It delivers 2 main messages they are:
“Theres no excuse, Get your hand off it” “You are four times more likely to have a crash when you hold and use your phone while
driving”