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Did you know that preventable injuries rank among the top 10 causes of death for people of all ages? Every year, thousands of people will sustain serious injuries or die from unintentional injuries; injuries where steps could have been taken to prevent them from happening. Examples of such preventable injuries include those sustained from not wearing a seat belt, head injuries received by not wearing a bike helmet, falls, burns, drowning, accidental poisonings, etc. It only takes a moment for an injury to happen – a fall on a stair, a quick glance away from the road, a biking or sports-related injury, a medication mix-up. But it also takes just a moment to protect against injuries and make us all safer.

This year’s theme for the National Public Health Week, April 4 – 10, 201, is "Safety is No Accident.” The focus is on how we can live injury-free at work, home, play, in the community, and anywhere people are on the move. The National Public Health Association points out that it only takes a moment for an injury to occur, but there are things we can all do to reduce the risk of the most common injuries. Taking actions such as wearing a seatbelt, properly installing and using child safety seats, wearing a helmet, ensure smoke detectors are working properly, clearing pathways to prevent falls, and storing cleaning supplies in locked cabinets are important ways to proactively promote safety and prevent injuries.

Some common sense tips for preventing injuries are:

At home:

  • Assess your home for poor lighting or uneven surfaces to prevent falls.
  • Install and maintain smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors.
  • Make sure all electrical outlets are inaccessible to children.
  • Supervise young children whenever they are near cooking surfaces and never leave food unattended on stove.
  • Program emergency number (including poison control) into your phone.
  • Store medicines and cleaning supplies in locked cabinets out of the reach of children.

At work:

  • Understand and follow all workplace safety regulations and guidelines.
  • Educate employees on workplace safety issues and train them to recognize unsafe conditions. Use a company bulletin board, website or newsletter to communicate important workplace safety tips.
  • Create an employee monitoring system that rewards individuals for reporting hazardous working conditions.

On the move:

  • Wear a seat belt on every trip, no matter how small.
  • Avoid texting, eating, grooming or using the phone while driving.
  • Walk facing traffic, and make yourself visable if walking at night.
  • Be mindful of the environment and be careful when crossing the road. Use crosswalks and avoid jay walking.

Safety is no accident. Together, we can help prevent injuries in all areas of life. By doing at least one thing – no matter how small – you can take a step towards creating a safer home, workplace or community for you and your loved ones. For more information about National Public Health Week and additional safety tips visit the National Public Health Week Website.

Mark Bello has thirty-three years experience as a trial lawyer and twelve years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide legal finance cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by a plaintiff involved in pending, personal injury, litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Business Associate of the Florida, Tennessee, and Colorado Associations for Justice, a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.

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