PREVENTING INJURIES IS KEY
PREVENTING INJURIES IS KEY
Injuries are the number one cause of death among people younger than age 45 . The best care for injuries is prevention .
Susan Burchfield , injury prevention / outreach coordinator , Scott & White Trauma Center and coordinator , Safe Kids Mid-Texas Coalition , works to spread that message throughout the communities served by Scott & White Healthcare . As the trauma team ’ s injury prevention / outreach coordinator , Ms . Burchfield plans and leads safety programs within the hospital and at schools , libraries , senior residences and other community centers .
She aims to tailor programs to the Scott & White audience . “ We specifically want to identify the areas of risk that we see for our population ,” Ms . Burchfield says . “ When we see an increase in a certain type of injury , we attempt to come up with an approach that serves as an educational tool .” For example , a rise in all-terrain vehicle ( ATV ) injuries prompted a seminar on ATV safety .
With the help of Jessica Stermer , the trauma team ’ s child safety program specialist , Ms . Burchfield focuses much attention on preventing childhood injuries . Vehicle incidents are the leading cause of injuries among children , she says , including injuries sustained when a child is riding in a vehicle that crashes or is struck by another vehicle .
Scott & White has many programs stressing the importance of child safety seats , and Ms . Burchfield encourages parents to follow the new Texas law that requires children to travel in a booster seat until they reach age 8 or a height of 4 feet , 9 inches .
To address the dangers of being struck by a car , Ms . Burchfield schedules programs on pedestrian safety , including one this past fall called “ Walk This Way .”
The leading cause of injuries across all age groups is falls , Ms . Burchfield says . She teaches an eight-week course in fall prevention called “ A Matter of Balance ” to senior citizens .
Ms . Burchfield loves her job because it allows her to interact with the community and offer help . “ My job gives me the opportunity to work with people and to give them solutions to make their families and their children safer ,” she says . “ People walk away from me safer .”
“ When we see an increase in a certain type of injury , we attempt to come up with an approach that serves as an educational tool .”
— Susan Burchfield
sw . org | Winter 10 THE CATALYST 13