Department of Public Health Sciences
Division of Social Medicine

Issue 34

Safe Community Monthly NewsIn this issue

NewSafeCommunitydesignation
AustraliaBangladeshproject
19thSCConference,Suwon,Korea
ISCHospitalsNetwork
SaferChristchurch

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ForthcomingConferences
SafetyMediaAward

55May 2010

DearColleagues,
WeareproudtointroduceyouanothernewSafeCommunities.
WehavereportsfromAustralia,Bangladesh,SouthKorea,USA.
SafeCommunitiesmovementisnowitsfullpace!
Newsandreportsofthisissueareappendedbelow.Sameissueisalsoavail
able at our WHO Collaborating Centre on Community Safety Promotion
website:http://www.phs.ki.se/csp/who_newsletters_en.htm
Withwarmregards
LeifSvanström,ResponsibleEditor
KoustuvDalal,Editor

Madison city –New member of Safe Community Network
OnTuesdayMarch23,2010,MadisonCountywasofficiallydesignatedasanInternationalSafeCommunitybytheWorld
HealthOrganizationCollaboratingCentreonCommunitySafetyPromotion.ThecelebrationwasheldatMadisonCentral
HighSchool.Thoseinattendancestrolleddown“SafetyBoulevard,”whichincludedexhibitsandactivitiesonavarietyof
healthandsafetytopics,foodandentertainment.GuestspeakersattheceremonyincludedMikeSingleton,KentuckyInjury
PreventionResourceCentreattheUniversityofKentucky;KristinLolmaugh,seniorprogrammanagerwiththeNational
SafetyCouncilinWashington,DC;TonyYoung,FederalHighwayAdministration;andDr.WilliamHackerfromtheKen
tuckyDepartmentofPublicHealth.RepresentingtheMadisonCountyHealthDepartmentwereitschair,Dr.StewartTobin,directorJamesRousey,andRuthHawkins,HealthEducationDirectorintheCenterforExcellenceinPublicHealthEducation
andLloydJordison,R.N.,CoordinatoroftheMadisonCountySafetyCoalition.
WorkingcloselywithSteveSparrow,thecoordinatoroftheKentuckySafetyPreventionandAlignmentNetwork,LloydJordi
son,RuthHawkinsandmembersoftheMadisonCountySafetyCoalitionbegantheapplicationprocessasanInternational
SafeCommunityoverayearago.Onlycommunitiesthatcandocumentasystematicapproachtodefininglocalinjurypreventionandsafetyissues,acollaborativeprocesstoaddressthem,andacommitmenttoevaluatetheeffectivenessoftheirefforts
areeligiblefordesignationasanInternationalSafeCommunitybytheWHOCC.Inordertocompletetheapplication,many
SafetyCoalitionmeetingsfocusedoncatalogingtheeventsandactivitiesfocusedonsafety,aswellasthecommunitypartners
whoareinvolvedincreatingthe“cultureofsafety”evidentinMadisonCountytoday.
“WhileaccompanyingrepresentativesfromSafeCommunitiesCanadaandNationalSafetyCouncil/SafeCommunitiesAmericaduringthesitevisittoMadisonCounty
thispastDecemberonecouldnothelpbutbeimpressedbythecaringnetworkof
peopleinMadisonCountyandtheworktheyaredoing,”saidSteve.“Onecanlookatalistingofprogramsandaccomplishmentsonpaperbutitdoesnotbegintodo
justicetotheamountofwork,dedicationandcaringthatbecomesevidentasyou
hearthepersonalstoriesandseethemanyprogramsandprojectsthatMadisonCounty,BereaandRichmondhaveaccomplished.”
Photo:LloydJordisonandNormandCoteobserveMadisonCountyJudge/ExecutiveKentClarksigningthedocumentthatofficiallydesignatesMadisonCountyasanInter
nationalSafeCommunityonbehalfoftheWorldHealthOrganizationCollaboratingCentreonCommunitySafetyPromotion.OthersignatoriesincludedBereaMayorSteveConnelly;RichmondMayorConnieLawson;Dr.StuartTobin,ChairoftheMadison
CountyBoardofHealth.
1NormandCote,SecretaryoftheBoardofDirectorsofSafeCommunitiesCanada,officiallydesignatedMadisonCountyonbehalfoftheWHOCollaboratingCenteronCommunitySafetyPromotion.SafeCommunitiesCanada,anaccreditedCertify
ingCentrefortheWHOCollaboratingCentreonCommunitySafetyPromotion,oversawtheformalreviewofMadison
County’sapplicationfordesignationonbehalfoftheCollaboratingCentre.
“Thisisagreathonorforourcommunity,”saysJamesRousey.“Thiscommunityisblessedtohaveacountygovernment,
twocitygovernments,anddozensoforganizationsthatareworkingcollaborativelytomakeMadisonCountyatrulysafe
placetoliveandwork.
Foradecadenow,MadisonCountySafetyCoalitionmembershavebeencollaboratingonnumerousprojectstoincreaseawarenessofsafetyissuesandreducethenumberofpreventableinjuriesanddeaths.Therearenowover50communitypart
nersinvolvedinthecoalitionincludinghealthcareproviders,lawenforcement,citiesandcountygovernments,localschools,
collegeanduniversities,firedepartments,faithbasedorganizations,aswellasothercommunityagenciesandgroups,and
interestedcitizens.
“Thecoalitionwasformedin2000inresponsetoatragicmotorvehiclecrash.BeginningastheMadisonCountyInjuryPreventionCoalition,researchandeducationalprogramsbeganinthecommunityonseatbeltandcarseatuse,”explainedLloyd
Jordison.“Followingthedevelopmentofourmissionandvision‘tocreateacultureofsafety’thecoalitionchangeditsnametoMadisonCountySafetyCoalition.”
TheMCSCexpandeditsprogramsbasedontheneedsofthecommunity.Programareasincludechildpassengersafetyand
increasingseatbeltuse,promotingbicycleandwalkingsafety,DUIprevention,“GhostOut”,“AlwaysBuckleChildrenUpin
theBackseat”program,suicideprevention,andfallsprevention.
“Youhavesetthebar,”saidKristinLolmaughabouttheworkofMCSC.Yourworkdoesn’tendhere.Youwillneedtokeep
upyourwork,andwe(NationalSafetyCouncil)needyoutohelpothercommunities’intheirefforts,creatingmoreSafeCom
munitiesacrossKentucky.”Report:LeslieD.Farris,MadisonCountyHealthDepartment,USA.

Noarlunga Safe Community & Centre for Injury Prevention and Research,
Bangladesh: Textile Worker Hearing Loss Prevention Collaborative ProjectKnownastheManchesteroftheEast,NarsingdiistheveryheartoftheBangladeshtextileindustry.Itisalsoaplaceofpov
ertyanddesperatelydifficultworkingconditions.Thetextilemillsarelargeshedspackedwithpowerlooms.Theenviron
mentishot,humid,darkandextremelynoisy.Seriousinjuriesarecommonplace.Workershavenohearingprotectionandmostmachineshaveexposedbelts,adeathtrapforworkersunderpressure.Thepowerfulloomsrun24hoursadaywithtwoshiftsofworkers.Thenoiseisdeafeningandtheirspeedthreatening.Being
thereforjustafewminutescanleaveyourearsringingsome24hourslater.Workersarecontinuallyexposedtosoundlevels
inexcessof110+decibels,noiselevelssimilartothatofbeingnexttoajetplaneengineduringtakeoff.
Workplaceinjurythroughlackofpersonalprotectiveequipmentcancastwholefamiliesintohungeranddespair.ManyoftheworkersarethepoorestofBangladeshisociety.Injuredworkersoftencannotaffordtoaccessbasicmedicaltreatmentand
workersaffectedbyoccupationalinjuryquicklybecomeunemployable.
TheTextileWorkerHearingLossPreventionProjectwasacollaborativeliaisonbetweenNoarlungaSafeCommunityandthe
CentreforInjuryPrevention&Research,Bangladesh[CIPRB].
NoarlungaSafeCommunity,amemberoftheInternationalSafeCommunitiesNetwork,hasworkedinpartnershipsince2000
withfellowhealthprofessionalsinBangladesh,implementingabroadrangeofinjurypreventionprogramsforpoorerworkersandcommunities.Thegoalofthe2010projectwastoimproveworkingconditionsforthesetextileworkersandtoreduce
theincidenceofhearinglossamongstworkersemployedinsmalltextilebusinesses.Theprojectinvolvedthedevelopmentof
culturallyappropriateeducationalhealth&safetyworkshopsforover400workersandtheiremployers,provisionofurgently
needed,correctlyfittinghearingprotectionequipmentforworkersand,mostimportantly,practicaltrainthetrainerprograms
forlocalhealthandsafetycoordinators.Inthiswaytheprojectcouldbefi
nancedfromexternalsourcesandthentakenupbythelocalcommunityasasustainable,longtermprogram.
ThisuniquecollaborativeliaisonbetweentheCIPRB&NoarlungaSafeCom
munitydemonstratesongoingparticipationintheInternationalSafeCom
munitiesNetworkandprovidestheopportunityforustolearnandgrowas
citizensoftheglobalcommunityandmembersoftheSafeCommunityfam
ily.
OurthankstoSouthernAdelaideHealthServicesandourfundingsponsors,
AusAid,SingaporeAirlines,theSMECFoundationandtheAustralianSafe
CommunitiesFoundationfortheirsupport.

Reporter:TonyMorisset&SteveParker,NoarlungaSafeCommunity,Australia.
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19th International Conference on Safe Communities, Suwon, South Korea
The19thInternationalConferenceonSafeCommunitieswasheldinSuwon,Korea,from23to26March2010.Themaintheme
oftheconferencewasSustainabilityofSafeCommunity.About500attendeesfromover40countriesparticipatedinthecon
ference.Theywentoverthepastresultsoftheeffortsthathavebeenputintoinjurypreventionandsafetypromotion,andalso
setthestagetodiscussfutureplanstofurtherexpandanddeveloptheSafeCommunityprogramsustainable.Theconferencewasheldonagrandscale,6topicspreconference,3plenarylectures,3invitedlecturesand17parallelses
sions.
Thescientificprogramscoveredvariouschallengingissuesofcommunitysafetypromotion,focusingonglobaleffortforsus
tainabilityofsafecommunities,effectivenessofsafecommunitiesandnationaleffortsforsustainabilityofSafeCommunities.
Inadditiontothis,theconferencefocusedonissuesinjurysurveillance,safetyatschool,homeandroad,safechildren,vio
lence,evaluationofcommunityprograms,Policyofcommunityprogramsaswellassuicideprevention.

Thekeynoteaddressescapturedtheessenceoftheconferencetheme.Asstatedbyonekeynotespeaker,LeifSvanström,the
reasonforsuccessoftheestablishmentoftheInternationalSafeCommunitiesideaisthattheMovementoffersasustainable
alternativewithoutcompromisingtheabilityoffuturegenerationstomeettheirneeds.Asstatedbytheotherkeynote
speaker,AlexanderButchart,Increasedglobalandnationalsupportforviolenceandinjurypreventionhasexpandedtheroleofnationalandlocalgovernment,andincreaseddemandforevidencebasedintervention.ThesechangesrepresentimportantopportunitiesforfutureSafeCommunitiestoworkinclosercollaborationwithgovernmentsandtoservebothasdelivery
mechanismsforevidencebasedviolenceandinjurypreventionstrategies,andastestfortheirevaluation,therebycontribut
ingtofurtherexpansionoftheevidencebaseandenhancedsafetyforall.Inaddition,theposterandoralpresentationspro
videdinsightintotheissuefacedbytherepresentativesofeachcountryorcommunity.
Alsotherewereseveralbusinessmeetings;AffiliateSCSupportCentermeeting,SafeCommunitiesCertifyingCentermeeting,
SafeSchoolsCertifyingCentermeeting,6regionalSafeCommu
nitiesnetworkmeetingsduringtheconference.
Thisconferencewasagoodopportunityforattendeestotakefulladvantageoftheseprogramsandshareexperienceswitheachother.Theconference’sscientificprogramprovidedasufficient
platformtodisplaysustainabilityofSafeCommunityinKorea
andtheworld.Presenterssharedtheirsuccessinworkingwithincommunitiestopromotesafetyandtoreducetheburdenofin
jury.
Thehostcity,Suwon,wasthefirstdesignatedSafeCommunity
intheAsianRegionin2002andredesignatedin2007.ItisoneofthecommunitiesmostactivelyparticipatingintheInternational
SafeCommunityNetwork.
The20thInternationalSafeCommunitiesConferencewillbeheldinthemunicipalityofFalun,Dalarna,Sweden,from6to9
September2011.
Repoter:NamsooPark&EunaBae,KoreaCall for International Safe Hospitals Network
Hospitalscanplayavitalroleforinjurypreventionandsafetypromotion.HospitalsshouldbeactivelyinvolvedintheSafe
Communityprogram.Therefore,WHOCCCSPhasdevelopedanew‘SafeCommunityHospitalNetwork’andcallingformemberships.FormembershipandtechnicalsupportspleasecontactProf.LeifSvanstrom(leif.svanstrom@ki.se)orDr.Kous
tuvDalal(koustuv.dalal@liu.se).Visit:http://www.phs.ki.se/csp/pdf/indicator/safe_hospitals_criteria.pdf
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Celebrating A Safer Christchurch Event
TheSaferChristchurchInteragencyGroup(SCIAG)isthegovernancegroupfortheSaferChristchurchStrategywhichhasanaimof:“makingChristchurchthesafestcityinNewZealand”.Thisistobeachievedthroughnumerousactionsfromacrime
prevention,roadsafetyandinjurypreventionperspective.
CurrentlyChristchurchissufferingfromthepublic’snegativeperceptionofpersonalsafety.InthelatestQualityofLifeSur
vey(2008),only32%ofChristchurchresidentsfeltsafeinthecitycentreafterdark.Thiswasdownfrom37%in2006.Inrelationtofeelingsafeintheirownneighbourhoods,58%saidtheyfeltverysafe,asmalldropfrom61%in2006.
ThisnegativeperceptionofsafetyisinstarkcontrasttosomeoftheofficialcrimefiguresforChristchurch.InthelatestPolice
nationalcrimestatistics,CanterburyPoliceDistricthasthe4thlowestoverallcrimerateperheadofpopulationinNewZea
land.Italsohasthelowestrecordedviolenceoffencesinthecountrybasedonperheadofpopulation.Therealityontheroads
isevenbetterwiththeCanterburyPoliceDistrictrecordingthelowesteverroadtollin2009sincerecordsbegan.
THEEVENT;
WiththeaboveinmindtheSCIAGorganisedthe“CelebratingaSaferChristchurch”eventasaninitiativetotryandachievethefollowingtwogoals:
1.ToplanandholdaneventthatencouragesthepublicofChristchurchintotheCBDandassistsindispellingtheperception
oflackofsafety.
2.IncreasethebrandingoftheSaferChristchurchlogobringingtogetherinitiativesundercrimeprevention,roadsafetyand
injuryprevention.
TheeventwasheldonalovelyclearsunnySaturdayon27February2010,
from 5.00pm to 9.00pm, in the open air pedestrian area of the central city
known as City Mall. The date was chosen so that the event could run in
conjunctionwiththeChristchurchEmergencyServicesdaythatwasbeing
heldattheChristchurchCentralPoliceStation..
The event itself consisted of 29 different stalls and/or displays of various
organisationsinvolvedinpublicsafetyinChristchurch.Earlyintheorganising of the event the stallholders were encouraged to provide both infor
mative and interactive displays so the public could get involved, speak to
the representatives from the organisations and hopefully learn some new
informationabouttheirsafetyinthecity.
Safer Christchurch stand giving out event passports
To encourage public participation an “event passport” was handed out to
CivilDefencedisplayallmembersofthepublicthatwalkedthroughthearea.Thisrequiredpeo
ple to get stamps from designated stallholders in their passports and thenreturnitcompletedtogointhedrawforanumberofdonatedprizes.Thisinitiativewasverypopularandensuredthepublichadthechancetovisitallthestallswithinthelengthoftheevent.
TheSCIAGwereverypleasedwiththisfirsttimeeventandbelieveasolidfoundationhasnowbeenlaidforfutureeventstobeheld.Someofthefeedbackinrelationtotheeventincluded:
87%oforganisationsthoughttheeventwasofvaluetothemandincludedcommentssuchas:“Brilliant.Itraisedourprofileinternally&externally”.
“Itgaveusanopportunitytoletpeopleknowwhowewereandwhatweweredoing.Itwasveryworthwhile”.
“Excellentintermsofonetoonepersonalcommunicationwithpublic”.
60%ofprizewinnerssurveyedstatedthattheyeitherlearntsomethingneworwouldtakeanewactionasaresultoftheevent.80%ofprizewinnerssurveyedwouldattendtheeventifitwereheldagain.
Otherpositivecommentsincluded“Wereceivedalotofpositivefeedbackfromthe pubic, competitors, Christchurch City Council. We even had a youth ap
proachusrerunningasimilareventforthem”.
“Itsgoodtoseeyouguysoutthereatnighttime”.
“Alllovedthevibrancyandmarketfeelinasummeryeveningmarketatmosphere”.


Reporter:GlennDobson,NewZealand
4Forthcoming Safety and Injury Conferences2010
x 2ndSouthEasternEuropeSafeCommunityConference
1517September,2010
Sibenik,Croatia
Conferencewebpage:
http://www.sigurnezajednice.hr/The_2nd_Southeastern_Europe_Safe_Communities_Conference_SibenikCroatia2010/
Home.htmlAbstractdeadline:1May.Venue:HotelSolarishttp://www.solarishotelsresort.com/
Contact:TanjaPekezPalisko,Email:tashamed@gmail.com
x The1stInternationalSafeCommunitiesConferenceforEastandCentralAfrica
ThePotencyofSafeCommunitiesin(EastandCentral)Africa:timeforaction!48October,2010,Kampala,Uganda
Contacts:1..imukasa@pincergroup.org,2.mmutto@pincergroup.org
P.O.Box72455,KampalaUganda.Tel:+256312265106x WorldConferencesforInjuryPreventionandSafetyPromotion
10thWorldConferenceonInjuryPreventionandSafetyPromotion,2124September,2010,London,UK
http://www.safety2010.org.uk
ConferenceProgramme
Contact:KarenHughes:Email:k.e.hughes@ljmu.ac.uk
Tel:+44(0)1512318723,CentreforPublicHealth,LiverpoolJohnMooresUniversity,KingswayHouse,5thFloor,Hatton
Garden,LiverpoolL32AJ,UKTel:+44(0)1512314510|Fax:+44(0)1512314515
2011
InternationalSafeCommunityConference
20thInternationalSafeCommunitiesConference
CelebratingtwodecadesofInternationalSafeCommunityDevelopmentgoingbacktowhereitallstarted69September2011,FalunMunicipality,Dalarna,Sweden
FirstAnnouncement:http://falun.se/www/externa/safe2011.nsf/Vbild/3789B4B81526E69BC1257703004FDF27/$FILE/
safe_community.pdf.Conferencewebpage:www.falun.se/safecom2011
Contact:safecom2011@falun.se
2012
RegionalSafeCommunityConferences
6thAsianRegionalConferenceonSafeCommunitiesin2012
Friday,11Sunday,13,May,2012,Tokyo,JapanThe3rdEuropeanSafeCommunityConference
ThefutureroleoftheFireandRescueServiceinthesustainabilityofSafeCommunitiesinEurope45June2012
Falköping,Sweden
Contact:annette.holmberg@falkoping.se3rd International Safety Media Awards
HonoringEffectiveInjuryPreventionMediaTheISMAAwardsCelebrationwilltakeplaceatthe
Safety2010ConferenceLondon,UK•September2124,2010
Categoriesries:Print•Audio•Video
LeverageYourSuccessForFutureProjects.ReceiveInternationalRecognitionForYourMedia
ShowcaseYourWorkWithInternationalColleagues.Submissionsnowbeingaccepted.DeadlineforentriesMay7,2010.For
moreinformationgotowww.teachingstory.com/isma.
Email:Marcia@ourreality.org
WHOCollaboratingCentreforCommunitySafetyPromotion
KarolinskaInstitutet
DepartmentofPublicHealthSciences
DivisionofSocialMedicine
Norrbacka2ndFloor,SE17176,Stockholm,Sweden.
Communication:KoustuvDalal,PhD.Editor(Email:koustuv.dalal@liu.se)
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