TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2012. – The number of Canadians participating in injury prevention and safety promotion programs developed and/or championed by Safe Communities groups across the country has quadrupled in the last five years. That’s one finding from the sixth annual National Report Card Survey, which surveyed 45 of the 46 designated Safe Communities across Canada in June 2012. The survey is being released to mark Safe Communities Day on Oct. 3, a countrywide celebration of Safe Communities Canada, now a program of Parachute. Safe Communities across the country will sponsor events and recognize partners.

Here are some highlights from this year’s report:

  • 5,962 volunteers contributed 123,495 hours to the cause of injury prevention and safety promotion in Canadian Safe Communities, four times as many hours as five years ago. This is an average of 132 volunteers per community contributing 2,744 hours in these communities.
  • The range of injury prevention and safety promotion issues Safe Communities tackled last year included: workplace safety, traffic safety, home safety, recreational safety, school safety, seniors’ falls, anti-bullying, violence prevention, rail safety and unused prescription drug collection and disposal.
  • The national injury prevention programs Safe Communities participated in last year included: CPR and first aid training, Safe Kids Canada programming, Passport to Safety, swimming and life-saving programs, SMARTRISK No Regrets, MADD school interventions, Operation Lifesaver rail safety, Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma for Youth, Risk Watch and ThinkFirst brain injury programs for kids.
  • By region, last year, 410,985 Ontario citizens participated in injury prevention and safety promotion programs and activities developed and/or championed by their Safe Communities leadership group. This is an average of 15,807 per community. For western-based Safe Communities, 345,478 citizens participated in these programs and activities. This is an average of 21,592 per community. This total of 759,000+ is four times the number involved in 2008.

Canada is one of few countries in the world that designates its own Safe Communities. To be successful, communities must document that they have acquired the attributes of leadership, priority setting for programs, sustainability and community engagement as Canadian Safe Communities. Canada now has 48 Safe Communities.

About Parachute:

Parachute is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Parachute officially came into being in July 2012 and unites the former organizations of Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada into one leader in injury prevention. Parachute’s injury prevention programming and advocacy efforts are designed to help Canadians reduce their risks of injury while enjoying long lives lived to the fullest. For more information, visit www.parachutecanada.org.

Contact:

To arrange an interview or for more information, contact:
Kathy Blair, Coordinator, Media Relations and Communications
kblair@parachutecanada.org or 647-776-5125 or 416-953-0864 (cell)

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