Preventing Injury and Drowning
Injuries are ranked as the leading cause of death among Canadian children and adults between the ages of one and 44. Each year, about 13,000 Canadians die as a result of injuries – accounting for more years of life lost than cancer, heart disease and stroke combined.
Annually, injuries cost the Canadian health system more than $13.3 billion. Medical emergencies on the job cost Canadian companies billions of dollars more in lost wages, health care expenses, lawsuits and workers’ compensation claims.
About 400 Canadians drown each year. More than 80 per cent of victims are male – usually between the ages of 15 and 44. Most often, they drown while participating in swimming or boating activity. Male and female toddlers are also a group at greater risk. In nearly half of all drownings of children up to four years old, the victims were left unattended – often for only a few moments.
Most all injuries and drownings are predictable and preventable. Education and training have been proven to significantly reduce risk, however financial barriers prevent many of Canada’s most vulnerable people from accessing such help.
