News Releases

No More Accidents! Call It What It Is

This page was reviewed or revised on Monday, November 14, 2011 10:40 AM

Sarnia, ON – Every hour of every day, more than 135 Ontario residents visit an emergency department with an injury from a collision, incident or crash, but never from an accident.

"Most people view their injuries as an accident - something they cannot control or prevent," said Cathy Cornish, Health Promoter with County of Lambton Community Health Services Department. "But most crashes, collisions, injuries, and incidents are predictable and preventable and therefore, by definition, are not accidents."

Cornish explains. "Drivers who use cell phones or text while driving significantly increase their chance of being involved in a collision, or a cyclist who rides without a helmet increases their chances of suffering a head injury after falling from a bike. If something happens, that's not an accident."

Each year, injuries cost Ontarians $6.8 billion, or more than $550 in per capita costs.

The County of Lambton Community Health Services Department, as a member of the South West Injury Prevention Network, is actively campaigning to change perception by changing the language.

"One way to do that is to change the words we use to describe injury and its causes, thus making people aware that injury can easily be prevented," added Cornish, Health. "By using words such as injury, collision, incident or crash, it makes you think about the possible causes of the incident and how the situation could have been prevented."

To view the South West Injury Prevention video clips visit www.youtube.com/user/SWIPN. For more information about NO More Accidents call 519 344-2062 ext. 2129, toll free 1-800-387-2882 or visit www.lambtonhealth.on.ca.

For more information about Lambton County, visit www.lambtononline.ca.

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Contact:
Cathy Cornish
Health Promoter
County of Lambton
Telephone: 519 344-2062 ext. 2129
Email: cathy.cornish@county-lambton.on.ca