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Children's Hospital

Paediatric Injury Prevention

Where can you find us?	E1-129
Who to contact with questions?	Denise Polgar Telephone:519-685-8500 Extension 75339
Who to contact when you are making a referral?	Denise Polgar Telephone: 519-685-8500 Extension 75339

Our Service

Injury is a significant public health problem, particularly in paediatric populations. As children develop and strive for independence through explorations and risk taking behaviour, they are at significant risk for injury. Injury is the leading cause of mortality in children & adolescents, accounting for 30% of deaths to young Canadians, overall and 73% of deaths in 15-19 yr olds. Injuries are predictable and preventable with up to 90% of all injury deaths preventable in the pre-injury phase. Further decreases in injury deaths and disabilities will not come from improvements in the delivery of care, but from prevention of these injuries. Preventing injuries from occurring in the first place is the most cost effective way to reduce the incidence of injury death and disability and there is still a significant need to bring more attention to the issue. The personal and emotional costs of injury are enormous for children and their families. Costs of treatment and rehabilitation are also a significant burden on the health care sector. Injury prevention initiatives have consistently demonstrated cost saving by reducing health care costs of averted injuries.

With the support of the Children’s Hospital and Children’s Health Foundation, the Trauma Program is playing an increasingly active role in the development of paediatric-focused injury prevention initiatives. This provides us with further opportunity to develop, deliver and evaluate more comprehensive, evidence-based initiatives to ensure that all children in Southwest Ontario have the opportunity to meet their potential and grow into adulthood. This focus on prevention, awareness and education is an innovative change in the delivery of health care for Children’s Hospital with a proactive approach to prevent injuries before they happen.

Our Team

Denise Polgar- Injury Prevention Educator

Coordinates Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Program
Responsible for development and implementation of new paediatric injury prevention initiatives
Assists in the evaluation of new programs; participates in developing the media campaigns; and networks with key stakeholders
Leadership in Regional Paediatric Injury Prevention Centre and involvement in numerous provincial and national injury prevention initiatives such as the Ontario Injury Prevention Practitioners Network, and Ontario Community Council on Impaired Driving

Jane Harrington- Injury Prevention Educator

Coordinates Impaired Minds Produce Actions Causing Trauma (IMPACT) Program
Participates in the Values Influences Peers (VIP) Program
Involved in both provincial and local injury prevention initiatives

Tanya Charyk Stewart- Injury Epidemiologist & Data Specialist

Conducts and collaborates in interdisciplinary, evidence-based injury and injury prevention research (i.e., Paediatric Injury Mapping Studies, Translational Injury Research)
Identifies the determinants of injury and risk factors to be targeted through injury prevention initiatives
Designs and undertakes evaluations of injury prevention programs to ensure they are working or see how they can be improved.
Leadership in Regional Paediatric Injury Prevention Centre and involvement in provincial and national injury and injury prevention committees

Health Care Professional Volunteers