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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 18, 2003

State agency announces “EMS has Injury Prevention in the Bag” program

Tools to address Alaska’s significantly higher rates of home injuries & deaths

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The Alaska Dept. of Health & Social Services, Div. of Public Health, Section of Community Health and Emergency Medical Services (CHEMS) is pleased to announce their new program “EMS has Injury Prevention in the Bag”. In an effort to reduce home injuries and deaths, particularly among children and the elderly, the Injury Surveillance and Prevention Program (ISAPP) has put together 100 bags filled with safety devices for rural Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers to distribute in their communities.

"Injury Prevention is a key component of Alaska's EMS program," Mark Johnson, CHEMS Chief, said "Through this new program, we give the state's EMTs a whole bag of tools they need to provide injury prevention activities in their communities."

Statistics show that rates of home injuries and deaths, such as poisonings and falls, are significantly higher in Alaska compared to other states. The goal of the “EMS has Injury Prevention in the Bag” program is to reduce home injuries and deaths by distributing safety devices to rural areas where these injuries are more likely to occur.

CHEMS developed a two-hour curriculum to train Emergency Medical Technicians on the use of the various safety devices. This includes a PowerPoint presentation on injury prevention, as well as time to examine and practice with the safety devices. The program will be offered during the state EMS Symposium in November. The final goal is to make the PowerPoint presentation a part of the regular training schedule for all emergency medical services providers. Two hours of CME credit have been approved for the class.

After training, EMTs will distribute the devices in their communities at their own discretion based on need. The EMTs will train community members on proper use of the safety devices through health fairs, at schools, and at fire/EMS department open houses. Re-supply of devices can be obtained through the state Injury surveillance and Prevention Program.

The “EMS has Injury Prevention in the Bag” program is a one-year pilot program funded by the federal Rural Hospital Flexibility grant program. The program gives EMTs the resources to seek future funding on their own.

The bags will include:

  • Course brochure
  • CD Rom with program information
  • Video-Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention training
  • Furniture straps
  • Safety Latches/toilet
  • Carbon monoxide detectors
  • Smoke alarm
  • Cabinet/drawer locks
  • Cabinet/drawer latches
  • Piggy banks
  • Window blind cleats
  • Choke tube
  • Bath thermometers
  • Corner guards
  • Night Lights
  • Outlet covers
  • Yak Trax -- shoe traction devices for walking on ice and snow
  • First Aid kits
  • Duct tape
  • Bathtub adhesive
  • Poison Control magnets/stickers
  • Reflector materials/tags
  • Safety posters

For more information on the “EMS has Injury Prevention in the Bag” program, contact Zoann Murphy, Health & Social Services Planner, Section of Community Health and Emergency Medical Services, Injury Surveillance & Prevention Program at (907) 465-1185.

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For more information, please contact

Sherry Hill, Special Assistant to the Commissioner for Communications
(907) 465-1611

Or

Ross Soboleff
Public Information Officer III
(907) 465-1611