|
The Trauma Times newsletter is a bimonthly e-newsletter created by the Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention focused on trauma and injury prevention topics going out to our 7,800+ subscribers. For 2022, we wanted to reach out to you, our subscribers and readers, to bring different perspectives to Trauma Times within the context of trauma and injury prevention. If you are interested in submitting an article or have feedback, please send it to epham@health.in.gov. We will gladly promote conferences, symposiums and training opportunities.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to others in your organization who may benefit from trauma and injury prevention updates. Their contact information can be added to the subscribers list as well.
Kristin Combs (Records Coordinator)
Kristin Combs has joined the Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention as a Records Coordinator. Kristin will be focusing her responsibilities on coroner engagement and outreach. Kristin most recently served as the Deputy Coroner with the Noble County Coroner’s Office. She also has experience as an Emergency Care Tech at Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville, IN and as a Lab Assistant at Parkview Health Labs for nearly 10 years.
Contact Information:
Email: kcombs@health.in.gov
Phone: 463-246-3346
Emma Heltzel (Injury Prevention Epidemiologist)
Emma Heltzel has been promoted to Injury Prevention Epidemiologist. Emma served as the Trauma Registry Coordinator for the last year and prior to that position was an intern for the Division. Congratulations Emma.
Contact Information:
Email: eheltzel@isdh.in.gov
Phone: 317-234-3265
The Governor's Public Health Commission recently met on Jan. 20, 2022. Data have been used as a tool to inform difficult decisions during the pandemic and in public health as a whole, and the commission met virtually to discuss the uses of public health data as part of its work to examine the state’s public health system and make recommendations that can improve the delivery of public health services.
The meeting on Feb.17, 2022 focused on childhood and adolescent health integration. Recordings and livestreams of the Governor's Public Health Commission meetings can be found on the IDOH YouTube channel. Minutes, agendas, and presentation slides from each meeting will be uploaded to the Commission's website as they are finalized.
Listening tours have also been scheduled around the state for public input on the topics being considered by the commission. Speakers will have up to 3 minutes to provide comment. Written public comments can be submitted to the commission here. Learn more and find the listening tour locations and dates on the Commission's website.
The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is accepting grant applications to provide first responders in rural counties intranasal naloxone. Only first responders who provide services in rural counties are eligible to receive the naloxone doses. For grant activities, first responders include (professional and volunteer): firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and other legally organized and recognized volunteer organizations that respond to adverse opioid-related incidents. IDOH will provide naloxone administration training for grant applicants upon request. IDOH encourages all agencies to be trained in naloxone administration, regardless of whether they have been trained in the past. The source of the grant funds for this program is the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) First Responder Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act grant. Please visit the application link to apply and view the full project description: https://redcap.isdh.in.gov/surveys/?s=E9MK3T7WPA
The opioid overdose epidemic affects community members of all ages and backgrounds. Community programs play a key role in distributing resources and educational materials to the people they serve. As such, libraries, colleges, high schools, and YMCA centers may apply for free Narcan using Emergent BioSolution’s Community Programs Requests Forms, found here. Eligible entities may receive up to 2-8 free doses of Narcan, depending on the type of organization. Additional resources on Narcan education, making a request to receive an educational kit, and more can be found on that website.
Additionally, here are supplemental resources to support the use of naloxone in these community spaces:
SAMHSA released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for EMS training. The purpose of this program was to recruit and train rural emergency medical service providers to address mental health and substance use disorders. This opportunity targeted local EMS agencies.
Though the application due date (Feb.14, 2022) has passed, we wanted to notify you of this opportunity for potential collaboration, should it apply to your organization or partners and be available again in the future.
Link to grant announcement: https://www.samhsa.gov/grants/grant-announcements/ti-22-001
Authors: G. Mohler, S. Mishra, B. Ray, L. Magee, P. Huynh, M. Canada, D. O’Donnell, and S. Flaxman
Abstract: Recent research has shown an association between monthly law enforcement drug seizure events and accidental drug overdose deaths using cross-sectional data in a single-state, whereby increased seizures correlated with more deaths. In this study we conduct statistical analysis of street level data on law enforcement drug seizures, along with street level data on fatal and non-fatal overdose events, to determine possible micro-level causal associations between opioid-related drug seizures and overdoses. For this purpose, we introduce a novel, modified two-process Knox test that controls for self-excitation to measure clustering of overdoses nearby in space and time following law enforcement seizures. We observe a small but statistically significant (p < 001), effect of 17.7 excess non-fatal overdoses per 1,000 law enforcement seizures within 3 weeks and 250 meters of a seizure. We discuss the potential causal mechanism for this association along with policy implications.
Read the article in full here: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspa.2021.0195
 Picture from https://www.nashia.org/tbi-awareness-month
March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month! The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) developed a three-year (2020-2022) national theme for promoting March Brain Injury Awareness Month, Working Together Promoting Brain Injury Awareness Month. NASHIA is working along with states, national organizations, and local members to promote awareness of brain injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC's) Injury Center defines a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. Research shows that people most commonly get TBIs from falls, firearm-related injuries, motor vehicle crashes, or assaults.
TBIs are a major cause of death and disability in the United States. CDC has estimated that TBI contributes to 166 American deaths each day, causing 61,000 deaths in 2017. In 2016, there were 1,239 Hoosier deaths related to TBI (18.6 per 100,000 Indiana residents). Additionally, Indiana residents experienced 6,726 TBI-related hospitalizations within the same year (101.4 per 100,000 Indiana residents).
Moreover, people with a history of TBI may be as much as 11 times more likely to die from accidental fatal poisoning, with opioids attributed to a significant number of cases. Unfortunately, substance abuse is a risk for TBI, and TBI is a risk for substance abuse. In the context of an increasing opioid epidemic, it is imperative that TBIs are properly diagnosed and treated to reduce long-lasting impairments.
IDOH’s Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention has partnered with Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana (RHI) and other stakeholders to build the capacity of professionals who work with people with brain injury throughout the state. Rehabilitation centers like RHI seek to provide personalized care for patients with brain injuries and other injuries and conditions to enable them to return to the highest level of function. State plan goals include identifying statewide needs to serve those with TBIs, improving access to resources and care, and bolstering the surveillance and prevention of youth TBIs. IDOH will work toward this vision of preventing brain injuries and improving long-term outcomes of those impacted by TBI in Indiana. Learn more about the State Plan here.
You can help take part by:
-
Knowing the facts: Learn more about brain injury at the following links
-
Speaking out: Consider sending a letter to the editor of your local newspaper or sharing on social media to increase awareness of brain injury
-
Learning more about disability language: Here are two guides to get you started!
Daylight saving time will begin soon on March 13! Not only will it be time to spring forward your clocks, but it’s also a good time to replace your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends that the batteries are replaced every 6 months. There are also 10-year batteries that do not need to be replaced as frequently.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas. It can be produced because of burning fossil fuels, and exposure can lead to poisoning, depending on duration and levels of exposure.
Initial symptoms of low to moderate CO poisoning can include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. With higher levels of exposure and poisoning, symptoms can worsen into confusion, loss of muscle coordination, loss of consciousness, and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are at least 430 deaths and 50,000 visits to emergency departments due to accidental CO poisoning each year in the United States.
Carbon monoxide alarms are a reliable way to alert you of rising levels of CO and keep your home safe. It is recommended that they are installed near every sleeping area in your home. If they alarm, immediately move outside to fresh air and call 911.
More CO Safety Tips:
- Regularly check your detectors according to manufacturer's instructions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends checking them once a month.
- Know the symptoms of CO poisoning. If you suspect you are experiencing CO poisoning, seek medical care promptly.
- Only use portable generators outside enclosed spaces and the home and at least 20 feet from windows, doors, and vents. They can be a source of toxic engine exhaust.
- Do not leave a car or truck running inside an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.
- Do not burn charcoal inside a home, garage, vehicle, or tent.
- Do not use gas appliances such as ovens or clothes dryers to heat your home.
Learn more about carbon monoxide safety here:
Submitted by Heidi Bultema, Trauma Intern at IDOH Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention
Whether it be a cell phone ringing, a child crying, or an individual eating, it seems that more people stopped at a red light are focused on something other than getting to their destination safely. Distracted driving causes numerous accidents, including those that can lead to fatalities. In 2018 alone, 2,800 people were killed and 400,000 people were injured from distracted driving related accidents. Not everyone involved in a distracted driving accident must be in a car. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 5 of these individuals were not in their car, but instead were walking or biking along the road. Everyone, in the car or near the road, is at risk to be involved in a distracted driving accident. Teenagers are most at risk and affected by distracted driving-related accidents. The CDC explains that teens are more likely to admit texting, not wearing a seat belt, or drinking before driving as distractions. Parents or guardians play a key role in preventing distracted driving accidents. From when the teenagers first learn to drive, it is important as the adult to have conversations with them about possible distractions. They can discuss not texting while driving or driving after drinking. Bringing up the consequences of these actions could be a good place to start. They can teach the teenager to be familiar with the route they will be driving, so they don’t need to keep looking down at their maps for directions. Lastly, they should discuss with the teenager being sure to eat and drink before heading out on the roads if possible.
What exactly is distracted driving? There are three main types of distractions:
-
Visual: Taking your eyes off the road
-
Cognitive: Taking your mind off driving
-
Manual: Taking your hands off the steering wheel
Distracted driving includes anything inside or outside the vehicle that prevents the driver from having their full attention on the road. There are a few solutions that can help lessen the amount of distracted driving accidents. Drivers should not multitask when driving. If anyone riding in the car notices that the driver is not paying attention and instead is on their phone, digging in the bag for another French fry, or looking elsewhere from the road, it is important that they ask the driver to relieve themselves of the distraction. So, next time you are out on the road, put the phone down and focus on the journey ahead so you can reach your destination. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Life is not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”
Submitted by Nicolette Schlup, Trauma Intern at IDOH Division of Trauma and Injury Prevention
National Youth Violence Prevention Week (NYVPW), recognized April 25-29, aims to advocate for youth and prevent further violent crimes against them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that homicide is the third leading cause of death for youth, with greater risk for racial minority and LGBTQ+ youth. Each day, over 1,000 minors are treated in emergency departments for injuries relating to physical assault. These violent acts contribute to mental health issues such as depression and suicide, future violent acts, smoking and substance misuse, obesity, risky health behavior, and academic issues including dropping out of school. In addition to the cost youth face, the country annually loses $21 billion in medical and productivity costs.
Sandy Hook Promise, an organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in schools and co-founder of NYVPW, reports that youth violence is preventable. They gathered a list of action steps for all members of the community including parents, schools, senior citizens, community organizations, universities, first responders, governments, businesses, religious organizations, medical institutions, and media outlets. Read more about the specific steps community members can take at the Sandy Hook Promise NYVPW website.
The CDC recognizes that youth violence is rooted in systemic healthcare issues, and the social determinants of health play a large role. To address youth violence, prevention programs must address the inequity of our society. The CDC recommends systemic changes on multiple levels of the Social Ecological Model. More information can be found on the CDC webpage titled Preventing Youth Violence. Examples of interventions to target systemic issues include early childhood home visitations, quality education including pre-school, youth mentoring programs, and more.
Interested in becoming more involved in youth violence prevention? Check out the groups below that are working to address the issue:
|
