Keeping Safe - Injury Prevention
Injuries are the leading cause of disability and death among First
Nations people and Inuit age 1-44. There are two types of injuries; unintentional
and intentional.
Unintentional injuries happen when a person is hurt by mistake.
Almost all unintentional injuries can be prevented - there is no
such thing as an accident!
Intentional injuries are a result of physically hurting yourself
or another person on purpose, such as suicide or assault. For more
information on intentional injuries, see suicide
prevention.
Why is Injury Prevention So Important for First Nations People
and Inuit?
Twenty-six percent of all deaths among First Nations people are
caused by injuries, compared to six percent of deaths caused by
injuries within the Canadian population. In Canada, injuries are
the leading cause of death among people age 1 to 44.
How Does Health Canada Promote Safety in First Nations and Inuit
Communities?
Health Canada is dedicated to helping First Nations people and
Inuit care for, improve and maintain their health. The Department
works closely with First Nations and Inuit organizations and communities
to develop activities and programs to prevent injuries. Health
Canada also offers unique programs and services to reflect First
Nations and Inuit cultures. These programs respect individual physical,
mental, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as family and community
backgrounds.
Injury prevention education is important. It is taught
at both the Aboriginal
Head Start program and
the Brighter Futures program to help First Nation and Inuit children
understand the importance of injury prevention from an early
age.
For more information on injury prevention activities, contact
your Injury
Prevention - Regional Office.
What Information is Available?
This section provides information on unintentional injury prevention
and how to stay safe. For more information on specific types of
injuries, visit one of the subjects below:
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