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Forum 26th Edition: November 2001
Health and Safety
POSITIVE ABOUT SAFETY IN HIGHLAND
Positive about Safety, Highland's accident prevention year, has continued
to develop since its launch in April. The aims of the year are to reduce
injuries and deaths resulting from accidents, while raising awareness of the
causes. There has been a focus on project based work, where the evidence of
effective practice is strong. Some of the recent initiatives are described below.
- During Child Safety Week in June, the focus was on the proper fitting
of child car seats. There was a fantastic response from Inverness car dealers,
thirty-eight of whom participated in the promotion, displaying child seats
in their showrooms. Many thanks are also due to Halfords for supplying seats
when dealers were unable to do so. Leaflets were available, for parents, and
Child Safety Week windscreen banners were specially created for the
event.
- A successful seminar on benefits of exercise for older people was held on
27 June. Jointly hosted by Age Concern Highland, and Highland Health Board,
the aim was to disseminate "best practice" approaches to increasing strength
and balance among older people. The mainly professional audience discussed
issues such as osteoporosis, prevention of falls, and extended independent
living. A full conference report will be disseminated in the autumn.
- The Area Pharmaceutical Committee has given its support to a pharmacy-based
campaign on driving while under the influence of over-the-counter and prescribed
medicines. The campaign, which will involve a specially developed leaflet
for drivers, will support Northern Constabulary's drink and drug driving campaign.
Other initiatives currently under development include:
- a low-cost safety equipment scheme for which a protocol has been produced,
and funding ear-marked;
- a plan to increase the home safety element in Parent Held Records supported
by health visitors;
- potential initiatives using the Safe Play approach of the Child Accident
Prevention Trust.
With a wide range of agencies involved, including the Highland Council, Northern
Constabulary, Age Concern Highland, BEAR (Scotland)*, along with different parts
of NHS Highland, we are very Positive about Safety in the North of Scotland.
Contact:
MARTIN RUSSELL
Health Promotion Adviser
Highland NHS Board
Assynt House
Beechwood Park
Inverness
IV2 3HB
Tel: (01463) 704959
E-mail: martin.russell@hhb.scot.nhs.uk
* BEAR (Scotland) is the company responsible for the management and maintenance
of trunk roads in north-west and north-east Scotland.
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