Injury Prevention Program

The Aboriginal Injury Prevention Program is a partnership between First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and Healing Our Spirit, to promote safe living through increasing awareness of injury related risk factors.

The goal of the Injury Prevention Program is to support and advocate on behalf of communities in the area of injury prevention, through the development of effective capacity building, communication, collaboration and research strategies.

All injuries combined, those caused by un-intentional (vehicle crashes, falls, drowning, un-intentional poisoning) and inflicted injuries (suicide, family violence, homicide), are the leading cause of death for Aboriginal people in B.C. and Canada. Injury rates are approximately three times higher in the aboriginal population compared to the general population. Due to this high rate and due to the fact injuries are under-reported and strategically un-addressed, injuries have become a serious Public Health Concern.

The burden of injury on families and the healthcare system, make Injury Prevention a priority for Healing Our Spirit and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

Injuries are not accidents. Most injuries are predictable and preventable, through developing awareness and decreasing risk factors.

For more information on injuries and the Aboriginal Injury Prevention Program please contact:

Mr. Dion L. Thevarge RN, BScN
Aboriginal Injury Prevention Coordinator
Toll Free: 1-888-745-8884