Media Release
July 21, 2009
Death and Injury: The Billion Dollar Burden
Is our obsession with sport leading to an increase in injuries?
Are we killing our kids with kindness?
Has the recent popularity of DYI television programs lead to an increase in
death and injuries around the home?
Are males twice as likely to drown while sky larking?
Do non-slip socks really stop you from slipping?
What professions are more likely to drink on the job?
Is the 21st century craze of cyling everywhere beneficial or detrimental?
Why is Victoria’s drowning rate one of the lowest in the world?
And are risks always a bad thing?
Preventable death and injury is an emotional and financial burden on our
community.
The cost of work-related injury and disease to workers, their employers and
the community has been estimated to be $57.5 billion.
Each year billions of dollars are spent researching injury prevention in an
attempt to reduce these figures.
Next week’s 9th Annual Injury Prevention and Safety Conference to be held
from 26 – 28 July at the Sofitel Hotel, Melbourne will address these issues and
more.
The conference involves researchers, practitioners and policy makers
discussing the future of injury prevention. The aim is to reduce injury related
harm.
It will focus on scientific excellence and the translation of new knowledge to
practice, and explore the links between forensic medicine, coroner’s
investigations and the prevention of injury.
Participants include The Victorian Commissioner for Safety Bruce Esplin, The
Victorian State Coroner Judge Jennifer Coate, the Director of the Victorian
Institute of Forensic Medicine, Professor Stephen Cordner and Dean of Law at
Monash University, Professor Ari Frieberg.
They will be joined by hundreds of international injury experts from the
following nations: The United Kingdom, The United States, South Africa, India,
Canada, New Zealand, Samoa, Iran, Vietnam, Thailand and Holland, among
others.
Subjects under discussion will range from drowning, violence, traffic
accidents, suicide, child injuries, crime, hot water scalds, drive way deaths
and rock fishing fatalities to non slip socks and poisonous plants.
Prior to the conference the launch of the WHO and UNICEF World Report on
Child Injury Prevention by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC Governor
General of Australia will be held on Sunday July 26 at 5.30pm.
Media information: Deb Withers ph: 0417 398 448 or
deb@debwithers.com
For program information check the website:
NEWS 
