Nova Scotia's Renewed Injury Prevention Strategy - Government of ...

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Vision and PurposeVisionEveryone in Nova Scotia working together to createhealthy and safe communities.Healthy communities are safe, sustainable,prosperous places to grow, live, work, play, and age.To achieve the strategic directions of this strategy,injury prevention must be part of a broader,comprehensive effort to build and improve thesocial, economic, and physical environments, andresources within communities. Through this, we willenable all people to develop to their maximumpotential and participate actively in social, economic,cultural, and political life. We must collectively buildour capacity across government and communities todevelop and enhance the relationships, networks,policies, infrastructure, systems, and practices thatcollectively improve the quality of life for all NovaScotians, now and in the future.PurposeTaking It to the Next Level Nova Scotia’s Renewed Injury Prevention StrategyThe strategy serves as an integrated andcomprehensive guide for our collective efforts tocreate healthy communities and thereby reduceinjuries.32
Scott’s StoryOn a cool and clear evening last spring, just beforemidnight, 17-year-old Scott was tearing around onthe back roads in the family’s old car when he lostcontrol and crashed into a tree. Scott’s legs wereshattered and his spine badly damaged.At first glance we want to blame Scott’s crash on hisreckless behaviour and perhaps inexperience. But, diga little deeper, and there’s a whole lot more to thisstory. Why did the crash really happen?Scott’s late-night joy rides were a way to cope withanger and isolation.Scott was feeling troubled. He was living with hismother after she split from his dad. He rarely saw hisfather now, and worried about them drifting apart.The whole family thing was stressing him out.Money was a big issue. His mother was alwaysworking. She was holding down two jobs just to paythe bills. It seemed like she was never home. Scottwas trying to find work so he could help out, maybeeven make some cash for his own pocket. Times weretough, though, and in this town, with little happeningand Scott’s inexperience, there was no work for him.School was a problem too. He hated it. It frustratedhim and he didn’t seem to be learning anythinguseful. His parents and teachers were always at himto do better, but Scott was seriously consideringdropping out even though he was scared of how hismom would react. Would she kick him out if hewasn’t in school?Scott was becoming an angry kid and that waswrecking his friendships, leaving him feeling moreand more alone. He had a girlfriend for a while, butthat fell apart a few months back. She told Scott heneeded to pull things together—to stop being somad at the world. Some of Scott’s friends werepopping pills to get high, and even though he did it afew times, he didn’t want to anymore. He liked to stayclean so he could at least help out at home with hiskid sisters.Home was pretty much the only hangout for him.His family lived on the edge of town, seemed likethe middle of nowhere. Even if he got to town, therewasn’t a place for kids to hang out. His buddieswould gather up at the school at night and onweekends, sometimes climbing on the roof to escapethe cops. There just wasn’t much to do. The oldcommunity centre closed two years ago because thetown couldn’t afford to keep it going—not enoughpeople living there any more. Scott and his sistersused to be into hockey. They were pretty good, butthese days the family couldn’t afford it.Scott’s injuries have turned his world further upsidedown.Now he’s got a whole new set of challenges.How will he get to his doctors and rehabappointments in the city? Who will help with hisexercises? None of his friends come around any more.Scott is even more depressed. The relationship withhis mom and dad and sisters is changing, and hedoesn’t know where things will go.Like Scott, his friends and family are just beginning tofeel how huge the impacts of the crash are going tobe and how it will affect Scott’s future. Scott willnever be the same again. His plans for work areblown away. Finishing school seems to Scott like animpossible task. And, with these injuries, Scott’shealth will suffer for the rest of his life.Taking It to the Next Level Nova Scotia’s Renewed Injury Prevention Strategy33
Page 3 and 4: Nova Scotia’s Renewed Injury Prev
Page 5 and 6: Table of ContentsConsider This ....
Page 8 and 9: Taking It to the Next Level Nova Sc
Page 14 and 15: Ultimately, the renewed strategy be
Page 18 and 19: The title of Nova Scotia’s renewe
Page 20 and 21: According to the 2009 report on The
Page 23 and 24: The 2000s• The Atlantic Network f
Page 25 and 26: Process for Developingthe Renewed S
Page 27 and 28: Shared Responsibility for SuccessSu
Page 29 and 30: Links to Other Strategiesand Initia
Page 31 and 32: What Are We Trying to Achieve?The p
Page 33: Renewed Nova Scotia InjuryPreventio
Page 37 and 38: Social Determinants of HealthA new
Page 39 and 40: Health DisparitiesMajor health disp
Page 41 and 42: Guiding PrinciplesDrawing on the vi
Page 43: Strategic DirectionsThe strategic d
Page 50 and 51: 17. Centers for Disease Control and
Page 52 and 53: Notes
Page 54: Notes

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