by Jessica Pasley
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is shining a light on injury prevention.
As part of National Injury Prevention Day on Thursday, Nov. 18, Children’s Hospital will join 43 hospitals nationwide to raise awareness about the need for injury and violence prevention.
“Injury is the leading cause of death and disability for children,” said Jeffrey Upperman, MD, surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital. “It is of paramount importance that we advocate and educate on safe practices that parents and caregivers need to follow to keep their loved ones safe.”
Thursday has been proclaimed Child Injury Prevention Day in Tennessee by Gov. Bill Lee, and the Metro Nashville Courthouse will light up green in support of the efforts.
According to Safe Kids Worldwide, preventable injuries are the No. 1 killer of children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost 1 million children die of injuries each year, and almost every one of these tragedies is preventable.
Staff of the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department will wear special green T-shirts for a ‘green out’ in support of the hospital’s commitment to safety, the theme of which is Lock It Up.
Along with providing injury prevention information and education to families upon discharge from the hospital, teams will also distribute medication lock boxes and cable locks for firearms as well as handing out other safety prevention items such as bike reflectors and reflective slap bracelets.
“Children need not die from preventable injuries,” said Upperman. “A properly installed car seat, cable locks and mediation lock boxes are all safety equipment that can help us keep children safe at home and on the road.”