EU Project Trying to Lower Adolescent Injury Deaths
20,000 per year are dying from fatal injuries, more than all other causes combined, according to EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion.
The AdRisk Project, "Community Action on Adolescents and Risk-Taking," launched a new package of materials and information Sept. 30 to help policymakers and professionals in the European Union address the high rate of fatal injuries in this population. About 20.000 young people die each year from injuries in Europe, twice as many as from all other causes of death combined, according to EuroSafe, the European Association for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, which says much can be done to change risk-taking behaviors by those 15-24 years old. About 63 million adolescents live in Europe, the agency says.
The materials include an analysis of the problem's causes, a strategy paper that sets out a framework for action, a "Good Practices Guide to Prevention of Injuries among Young People," guidelines for initiating actions on a national level, and the AdRisk toolbox, which consists of more than 35 tools useful to professionals working in this area.
Traffic accidents, responsible for 50 percent of adolescent injury deaths in Europe, are the leading cause. Sports and leisure activities are the leading cause of hospitalization for this age group. AdRisk recommends training this population in risk assessment and making appropriate decisions.
Visit this site to download the project's reports and tools or the EuroSafe homepage for information about EuroSafe and its activities.