EDUCATION
BCIRPU provides support and resources for community initiatives aimed at preventing injuries, and encourages networking and information sharing across the province. It is our goal to enable local groups to mobilize and take action to address injuries that affect British Columbians in their communities. BCIRPU also provides advanced education and training to future leaders in injury prevention research.
Canadian Injury Prevention Curriculum (CIPC)
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Contact: Dorry Smith dbsmith@cw.bc.ca
The Canadian Injury Prevention Curriculum (CIPC) is a unique curriculum that focuses on injury prevention theory and practice. It was developed for health professionals and other key stakeholders whose work includes injury prevention. The focus of the curriculum is on the epidemiology of injury, the principles of injury prevention, injury data systems, applied research and planning methodologies, and program development and evaluation.
The curriculum is meant for adult learners who, because of their functions or responsibilities, are likely to conduct research activities or develop, implement or evaluate programs aimed at improving safety and reducing the frequency and severity of both intentional and unintentional injury. In addition to increasing the number of individuals prepared with the same basic understanding, we are hoping that the common preparation this initiative will provide will enhance inter-sectoral collaboration.
Courses are offered through the University of British Columbia (UBC), School of Population and Public Health (link to the course syllabus), and available upon request.
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Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum©
Contact: Sarah Elliott sarah.elliott@gov.bc.ca
The Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum© (CFPC) is designed to build on existing knowledge and skills of health professionals and community leaders working in the area of falls prevention among older adults (those 65 and over). The CFPC was developed under the leadership of Dr. Vicky Scott, Senior Advisor on Fall and Injury Prevention for the British Columbia Health Authorities, in collaboration with fall and injury prevention experts, researchers, and health educators with the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU), the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research (ACICR), the PEI Centre for the Study of Health and Aging and the PEI Seniors Falls Prevention Coalition, and with members of a national advisory committee of stakeholders (government and non-government). Funding for this project was provided by the Population Health Fund of the Public Health Agency of Canada, with contributions and support from the B.C. Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport.
The goal of the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum is to give participants the knowledge and skills needed to operate from an evidence-based approach to seniors falls and fall-related injury prevention, including a) an approach to selection of interventions consistent with proven prevention strategies; b) an understanding of how to integrate falls prevention programming into existing seniors’ health services policies and protocols; and c) knowledge of appropriate evaluation and dissemination techniques. The course also gives participants insight into how to involve seniors as partners in the development of effective strategies and interventions. Participants will learn about current effective programs, and the reliability and validity of existing resources and tools for screening and assessing fall risk. To ensure the potential for synergy in falls prevention along the continuum of services for seniors, the course covers a number of settings – community organizations, home support, health service delivery, long-term care, acute care, rehabilitation and emergency services.
Interested in taking a course? Interested in contacting a provincial lead?
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Partnerships
The Community Against Preventable Injuries (The Community)
BCIRPU is proud to partner with the Community Against Preventable Injuries
Every year, about 400,000 British Columbians suffer injuries that could have been prevented. In fact, preventable injuries are the number one killer of British Columbians aged 1 to 44. In addition to the human cost, these injuries cost British Columbians over $4 billion a year. The Community Against Preventable Injuries brings together concerned individuals and organizations like ours to fight this devastating epidemic. It’s an organization that shares information, raises awareness of the daily unnecessary risks we all take, and helps create a culture where we all look out for each other. Please join us in the cause. Visit preventable.ca
Collaboration with ThinkFirst Canada
ThinkFirst, a national organization, is dedicated to the prevention of brain and spinal cord injuries through education by promoting healthy behaviours in children and youth. Approximately 37,000 Canadians sustain brain and spinal cord injuries per year and beyond the personal tragedy, each injury costs our society 5-7 million dollars in lifelong medical costs and lost earnings. Currently, prevention is the only cure for these irreparable injuries.
ThinkFirst BC is the British Columbia chapter for the Foundation, coordinated out of the BCIRPU by Shannon Piedt. ThinkFirst BC teaches healthy behaviours in 3 ways:
1) Providing school presentations to elementary school students (kindergarten – grade 7)
2) Providing THINKFIRST FOR KIDS safety curriculum binders to elementary teachers
3) Providing information and helmet fitting clinics at community events.
Our school presentations engage the students through stories and games to learn about the brain and spinal cord and how to protect them. During our visit, a ThinkFirst presenter accompanied by a brain or spinal cord injury survivor will present the following to the students:
- The brain and the spinal cord: what are they and what do they do?
- What happens when the brain or spinal cord get hurt?
- Ways to protect the brain and spinal cord
- Proper helmet fitting
- The brain/spinal cord injury survivor’s story
What ThinkFirst BC needs:
We would love to be invited to come to your school for a half day to present a powerful safety message to all students in the school. We prefer that students are divided into the following age groups for presentations: kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-4, grades 5-6, and grade 7. Each presentation lasts 20 to 45 minutes depending on the grade level.
We will also leave your school a presentation package that includes:
· THINKFIRST FOR KIDS Curriculum binders – Kindergarten to grade 7, easy-to-use 6-lesson plan curriculum that is proven to successfully teach safety to Canadian children and youth and meets at least 2 of the Health and Career Education prescribed learning outcomes
· 2 helmets
· Helmet-fitting brochures
· A fictional children’s book on a story of a brain/spinal cord injured person (donation for the school library)
The fee range for elementary schools is $150-350, but if cost is a barrier, please contact us.
For more information or to book a presentation, please contact Shannon Piedt at 604-878-2000, Ext.5478 or email spiedt@cw.bc.ca.
Collaboration with Safe Communities Canada
Safe Communities Canada (www.safecommunities.ca) is a national organization dedicated to helping communities across the country build capacity to organize coordinated, collaborative programmes designed to reduce the pain and cost of injury and promote a culture of safety for all their citizens.
Safe Communities Canada designates communities in Canada which have demonstrated that they have developed the capacity to address their injury challenges in a thoughtful and strategic fashion. Canadian Safe Communities strive to understand the causes of injury in their community, identify priorities and develop effective response strategies.
Since its inception, Safe Communities Canada has been an Affiliate Support Centre for the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Community Safety Promotion, and has played a leading role in developing the Safe Communities movement both nationally and internationally. Since it was founded in 1996, Safe Communities Canada has designated 58 communities as Safe Communities, and its network of designated safe communities demonstrates a vibrant and passionate testament to community capacity and caring. Five Safe Communities have also received international Safe Community designation from the World Health Organization.
BCIRPU is the British Columbia provincial lead for Safe Communities Canada. If your community is interested in the Safe Communities movement, or becoming a designated Safe Community, please contact Shannon Piedt, Provincial Liaison at spiedt@cw.bc.ca.
British Columbia currently has three designated Safe Communities:
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Training Opportunities
BCIRPU sets up training programs for:
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network partners |
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graduate students |
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agencies involved in injury |
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undergraduate students |
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post-doctoral fellows |
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communities |
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community presentations |
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training opportunities |
Recently, BCIRPU has provided training for both graduate and undergraduate students. Two students were supervised by staff members of the unit; a community medicine resident from the University of British Columbia and an anesthesiologist resident from the University of Toronto.
· supervised Nursing students from the University of British Columbia, an interdisciplinary studies student from the University of British Columbia, a psychology student from Germany, a medical student from Queens and an Environmental student from McMaster University.
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