Injury Prevention
About
- Mission, Vision & Values
- Clinical Integration
- Facts & Figures
- IU Health Executives
Expand/Collapse
- Board of Directors
- In The Community
Expand/Collapse
- National Rankings
Expand/Collapse
- Partnerships
- Patient Safety
Expand/Collapse
- Patient Rights & Responsibilities
Expand/Collapse
- Patient Information
Expand/Collapse
- Magnet Designation
Expand/Collapse
- Vendor Relations
Expand/Collapse
- Volunteering at Indiana University Health
Most people will sustain a significant injury at some point in their lives, but most injuries are predictable and preventable. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for Hoosiers age 1-34.
As Indiana’s most comprehensive health care provider and home of two of the state's three Level I Trauma Centers – Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health - this statistic hits close to home. IU Health has a rich history of engaging in community outreach initiatives aimed at making IU Health communities across the state safer for the people we serve.
Injury Prevention Outreach Efforts
Bicycle Helmet Safety
Wearing a properly-fitted bicycle helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by 85%, though only 20-25% of children under the age of 14 wear them. In an effort to increase helmet use and decrease bicycle related injuries, Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health launched a Bicycle Helmet Safety Campaign from May to November 2011, outfitting 4,042 children with a free properly-fitted bike helmet and provided bike safety education in 13 different IU Health communities across the state.
Child Passenger Safety
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 through 12 according to figures from the National Center for Health Statistics. On National Seat Check Saturday, September 24th, 2011, IU Health launched eight car seat clinics across the state to decrease the incidence of children traveling unrestrained or restrained incorrectly in IU Health communities. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians distributed 122 free car seats and found that 85% of the 205 car seats inspected were installed improperly.
Falls Prevention
Falls remains the leading cause of death and injury for older Americans. In Indiana, 76% of fall-related deaths occurred in Hoosiers age 65 and older. On October 1st, 2011, IU Health sponsored the Central Indiana Council on Aging’s “Safe At Home Event” which consisted of 150 volunteers performing minor repairs and modifications on 25 homes in the near west side of Indianapolis to help seniors stay “safe at home”.