September « 2009 « Preventable

Written by robertwillis on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 No Comments

For those of you new to the preventable community, here’s a bit of info on what it’s all about.

The Community (aka the Community Against Preventable Injuries) is a new organization that’s been established to raise awareness, transform societal attitudes, and hopefully change people’s behaviors. Why form such a community? I’m glad you asked.

Every year, 400,000 British Columbians are injured and 1,200 killed as a result of predictable and preventable injuries. What does that mean to me on a daily basis? Each hour of the day, 47 preventable injuries occur as a result of falls, motor vehicle crashes, poisonings, drownings and other activities. Who is all of this happening to? You’ll be surprised to know that the leading cause of death for British Columbian’s between the ages of one and 44 are preventable injuries.

Preventable injuries also cost the B.C. tax payer an estimated 4 billion dollars a year. So we’re not only hurting ourselves, we’re also using money that could be used to help others who can’t prevent their injuries or illnesses. Pretty scary, eh?

But it doesn’t have to be. If we start the awareness now, who knows how many injuries we can save ourselves. No, really who knows? But seriously, even if one person forgoes the hardship of an injury, it’s an achievement.

Each week I publish blog posts pertaining to preventable injuries. The idea behind the Community is to start a dialogue. So let’s get started. Post your thoughts on this site as well as on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Join the Community. It’s free, and you might just learn something if you’re careful (which is the point). Because as we all know, an ounce of prevention…

Tags: at home, at play, at work, On the Road, preventable injuries

InTEXTication?

Written by robertwillis on Saturday, September 26, 2009 8 Comments

Oh smart phones! How I love thee! You’re everything I ever wanted a handheld device to be. You’re a cell phone, music player, camera, video screen, mini-computer, and best friend. Is there anything you can’t do? Maybe that’s the problem.

These little pocket genies are just so convenient and handy we want to use them all the time. Hell, they’re not just a good way to augment the conversation: they are the conversation—at least in my circle of friends. It seems everyone has an iPhone or some other super phone these days. I’m jealous with iEnvy every time people tell me about a new app on their phone that makes life more worth living.

But not everyone is so fond of the pervasiveness of these handheld units. The government of B.C. is contemplating a ban on using cell phones while driving. It sounds like a no brainer, but think to yourself about how many times you’ve talked on the phone while steering your vehicle around a corner, or worse yet, read a text message.

Not having a car myself, I asked someone I know who I’ve seen use a smart phone while driving about this habit. He doesn’t want to be identified (he knows it’s frowned upon), so let’s just call him “H”, shall we?

H has an iPhone, and he loves it. When asked whether or not he texts while driving, he responded, “Yes, a lot. I’ve got like 2500 free texts messages, so I use the text function a lot more than calling.”

I asked him if he thinks it’s distracting to text while driving, he enthusiastically replied, “Absolutely, I’m positive that it’s distracting. I only throw a glance at my phone at most. If I have to read something or focus, I pull over.”

What do you think about the idea of banning the use of cell phones while driving, was the next question I asked (while I pondered how he could spell words properly while navigating the road). To which H said,

H drivint while texting “I think it’s a great idea. It’s so easy to text while driving when it’s allowed. If they made it illegal, I’d think twice about doing it. But car companies are making cell phone use in vehicles easier.

Now you don’t have to look anywhere to use your phone because the controls are on your steering wheel, and the sound is coming out through your stereo. The more laws you have against looking at your phone, the better car manufacturers will integrate your phone with your car.”

From H’s responses, I took two themes: using your cell phone, including texting with it , is bad , and we shouldn’t do it, and laws might help us stop. However, since car makers are making it so easy to use your phone these days, maybe using your phone with hands free isn’t as bad as holding the phone while driving.

This raises an interesting question: is it the physical phone being used while driving that’s the problem, or is it the distraction it causes while driving tons of metal down the road that’s wrong, or is it both, or neither?

Tags: driving safety, iPhone, On the Road, pedestrian safety, preventable injuries, Smat Phone, Texting

Bike Helmets ” What’s Your Excuse? ” Part 2

Written by robertwillis on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 No Comments

Another bike helmet related accident that could have been avoided. My last post on helmets showcased the opinions of a couple of Vancouver men towards bike helmets. One wasn’t wearing one because he felt they made him sweaty and weren’t necessary at all times. The other was converted to wearing bike helmets because they save lives and are comfortable. Today, I’d like to introduce you to a couple of women I accosted with bike helmet-related questions. The first is a nurse, so you know she’s all about prevention, right?

Susan – Nurse – No Helmet

Susan - Cyclist - No Helmet

Me: Nice day for a ride, huh.

Susan: Ya.

Me: Is that one of them cruiser bikes?

Susan: Um, ya.

Me: You ever cruise into a car or light standard?

Susan: Nah…Well not very often.

Me: You ever thought of crusin’ over to the bike shop and pickin’ up a helmet?

Susan: I have a helmet but only use it on special occasions.

Me: Today’s not special?

Susan: Nah.

Me: Why Nah?

Susan: “If I’m riding over the Second Narrows Bride or something, I wear a helmet. I’m not an idiot. Vancouver’s set up well for bicycle riding. It’s quite user friendly. I can get most anywhere I want to go and not have to leave a city designated bicycle route, which are generally traffic calmed areas, or I’m on the sea wall. There’s only a few blocks here or there where I have to go through major intersections, and I walk my bike through those anyway.”

Susan echoed the common belief that cars are the major reason to wear helmets. Pedestrians and stationary objects as hazards didn’t factor into her bike helmet rational.

As I walked home contemplating the many attitudes towards helmets, I encountered this safety conscious lady. She’s probably got the coolest helmet I’ve seen, even if it’s probably better suited for equestrians…

Anna – Professional – Helmet Wearer

Me: Is that a helmet for horse riding?

Anna: Why yes it is!

Me: I guess a stead is a stead, even if it’s metal not flesh.

Anna: I have a regular bike helmet but this one’s more fun.

Me: Do you always wear a bike helmet?

Anna: “If I’m riding I do. My brain allows me to think, to feel, to move--to bike in the first place. I'd like to maintain these capabilities as long as possible. Wearing a helmet is one of the ways I try to minimize risks while allowing myself to engage in the activities that I enjoy. I ride on both quieter streets and roads heavily used by other vehicles. I try to ride as safe as possible. I'm sure most people try to be safe, but accidents happen.”

What’s your excuse? Tell me why you do or don’t wear a bike helmet. I’ll make it my mission to find the facts, experts, and opinions of your fellow citizens to bolster or discredit your opinions. Just post them in the comments area below. This blogger is standing by…with a helmet on.

Tags: at play, bicycle safety, Helmets, On the Road, preventable injuries, What's Your Excuse?

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