Injuries remain to be one of the leading causes of death and disability in any region of the world. International Safe Community Programme is most important programme for injury prevention and safety promotion in community. The aim of study was to introduce the concept of Safe Community as a successful tool for injury prevention and safety promotion. For this study, the scientific literature overview, document analysis, and descriptive analysis were used. The Safe Community model is a long-term, sustainable, and coordinated program, based on partnership and collaboration, covering all genders, ages, environments, and situations. Safe Community concept targets vulnerable groups and high-risk environments. Programme documents the frequency and causes of injuries, and has evaluation mechanisms. Community itself play the leading role in Safe Community. Reduced injury rate/morbidity, disability, and mortality from injuries, and improved quality of life, are the results of comprehensive sustainable preventive work at the community level. The subcategory Safe Schools are promising preventive programmes intended to enhance child safety.
Background In 2007 Grosse schuetzen Kleine/Safe Kids Austria introduced a broad Safe Children Community Programme in the district of Deutschlandsberg (comprises 39 communities with 60.000 inhabitants, 9.500 children aged 14 and under). At this time 2.219 child injuries occurred annually in this region. This number corresponds with an injury rate of 248 per 1.000 children per year. Aims/Objectives/Purpose The aim was to find a framework to evaluate the effect of a safe community work focused on child safety and to implement the key factors in a systematically work process. Methods Children who sustain an injury in the district of Deutschlandsberg are mostly treated in the local hospital or by the general practitioner. Severe cases are referred to the Children's Trauma centre in the capital city of Graz. By collecting and analysing all data available from these sources 95% of all injuries which required medical treatment could be covered in the study. The same data analysis has been done in a control district of the same size and distribution of population in order to show evidence after the intervention period. Results/Outcome After 5 years of intervention the preventative work shows substantial effects that relate to a multi-level prevention programme. The number of injuries to children dropped by 16% related to absolute cases. The injury rate declined by 7%. Significance/Contribution to the Field With the Safe Children Community project Grosse schuetzen Kleine/Safe Kids Austria wanted to supply evidence that the Indicators for Safe Children Communities make a difference when followed accordingly. Accompanying the programme with a comprehensive data surveillance in the intervention and the non-intervention district helped to bring this evidence forward. It is very important to involve a hospital in safe community work for evaluating and documenting the success of such a project.
BackgroundWe initiated and designed Safe School Communities, developed structures for implementation and evaluation in close cooperation with two different types of schools: Lannach Primary School and Rein Secondary School.DescriptionThe first step was to motivate responsible persons of the advantages to becoming a designated Safe School. Together with them the second step was to establish a Steering Committee comprising all stakeholders and relevant representatives for safety in the schools and their community.ResultsEach Safe School Committee has been developing programs for all ages and genders, with specific safety programs for those most at risk of injury.Lannach Primary School was designated as International Safe School in May 2015. The data and evaluation of the developed and realised programs prove that their initiatives are effective.Rein Secondary School also established a board of pupils – the elected Health and Safety School Representatives (two from each class) – to address the needs of students. During his site visit to the school in May 2015 Max Vosskuhler made the following statement: ‘Rein is easily the best example of what International Safe Schools is trying to do. Their faculty, students and staff showed clear commitment and understanding.’ The application to be designated as the first Safe School at the secondary level in Austria is the next step.ConclusionsIt is helpful to implicate approved methodologies and follow the International Indicators for Safe Schools.Lannach Primary School as the first International Safe School in Austria has a leading role, which makes it easier to share successful projects and programs with other schools – especially within the Safe Children Community Deutschlandsberg.To develop and realise projects it is adjuvant to have additional financial support. The Austrian Workers Compensation Board and the Styrian Government are relevant partners of Safe Kids Austria assisting these two pilot schools.
BackgroundThe Safe Children Community Deutschlandsberg was expanded to the Safe Children Community of Southwest Styria which now comprises three districts. Initiation, development and implementation of successful projects and programs have furthered the reduction of child injury rates. Additionally, evaluation of programs, measures, and injury data was carried out to determine whether the efforts achieved the desired results.MethodsThe steering committees of each district comprising all relevant representatives established working groups for categories such as safety in traffic, at home, in school and preschool, during sports, and during leisure time, as well as injury surveillance. A variety of child-safety activities in different settings were developed, involving as many organisations, institutions, schools and professional groups as possible, as well as local media.ResultsData surveillance demonstrated a reduction in child injuries. The relative injury rate of the Safe Children region decreased from 216/1000 in 2012 to 201/1000 in 2014. The pilot district Deutschlandsberg (designated in 2011 as the first Safe Children Community) was able to reduce the child injury rate from 195 in 2012 to 180 in 2014.ConclusionsMotivating a community to carry out injury-prevention initiatives is much easier when the focus is on children. It is also very useful to have champions from all public and private sectors and areas on the steering committees and in the working groups. In addition, it is helpful if a structure of participation is supported by the top-down-principle in the public sector. Despite all the internal motivation, a Safe Children Community has to be driven by external input and expertise. In order to develop and realise projects and receive the attention of Safe Kids Austria as a coordinating body, it is important to have the financial support of the Styrian Government and the districts themselves.
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