The Injury Prevention Program's (IPP) mission is to reduce death and disabilities that result from intentional and unintentional injuries. Intentional injuries are those that are self-inflicted or committed by another person, like suicide or sexual assault. Unintentional injuries are those that are considered "accidental" such as poisonings, falls, or motor vehicle crashes. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in New Hampshire for those aged 1-44 years and have been for many years. Injuries often do not occur by chance and are thus preventable.

Much of the IPP's work is carried out by working together with the Injury Prevention Center at Children's Hospital at Dartmouth, the New Hampshire Coalition against Domestic and Sexual Violence, the Injury Surveillance Manager within the Health Statistics and Data Management Section and many community partners. The IPP:

• Provides training and technical assistance to professionals and the public.
• Promotes and implements prevention programs that work.
• Evaluates the impact of these activities.

The IPP also houses the Northern New England Poison Center's New Hampshire Poison Educator.

September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month

Watch this public service announcement (PSA) featuring Tomie de Paola, who is author and illustrator of over 250 children's books, and at 80+ years old is still working and very active. He has an important message for everyone about preventing accidental falls in our older adult population.

(Click photo to go to video)

Read video transcript

For more information about Falls Prevention, see your health care provider or visit the NH Falls Risk Reduction Task Force website.

Video Resources

• US Consumer Product Safety Commission "10 Tips to Keep Your Baby Safe" - 1 minute and 6 minute versions

Publications

• How to Keep Your Sleeping Baby Safe
• NH State Injury Prevention Plan, 2014 – 2018
• Injuries in the State of New Hampshire 2001-2009
• New Hampshire Special Emphasis Report: Infant and Early Childhood Injury, 2005-2009
• Traumatic Brain Injury: Occurrence and Mortality in New Hampshire, 2001-2009
• New Hampshire Special Emphasis Report: Traumatic Brain Injury 2009
• Preventing Falls Among Older Adults in New Hampshire
• Elder Falls Data Brief 2005-2009
• Poisoning in New Hampshire 2005-2009
• New Hampshire Public Health Issue Brief: Sleep-Related Infant Deaths, 2011-2016

For More Information

• Information about older adult fall prevention: NH Falls Risk Reduction Task Force
• Information on the State Suicide Prevention Plan 2013
• Information on Brain Injury: The Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire
• The Northern New England Poison Center has a 24-hour hotline, 1-800-222-1222

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