People in the news

Injury Prevention Deputy Editor Dr Terry Nolan has been appointed Foundation Professor and Head of the School of Population Health, and Head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Melbourne. He continues as a Fellow of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, and also has an appointment at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne.

The Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center has a new director. Dr David Grossman, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Adjunct Associate Professor of Health Services at the University of Washington, and an attending physician at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center, has taken over outright leadership of the prestigious research centre, having shared the role for the past six years with Dr Fred Rivara, one of Injury Prevention's Deputy Editors. David Grossman has particular interests in vehicle crash reconstruction, evaluation of violence prevention programmes, fire prevention, the safe storage of guns and the health of Native Americans.

Dr Gottlobe Fabisch has become the new Secretary General of ANEC. For the past nine years, the new ANEC leader has had a major role in setting up and running the EU liaison office of a research organisation where she has been responsible for the Brussels office. She holds a PhD in political science and journalism. Dr Fabisch has taken over from Bruce Farquhar who lead the association since its establishment and who has recently emigrated to Canada, where he will be pursuing his career in a similar field.

Suzanne Binder MD has been appointed as the Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from December 2000. Dr Binder received her BS degree from McGill University and her MD degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She began her career with CDC in 1984 as an Epidemic Intelligence Officer assigned to CDC's Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health. She continued to work in NCEH from 1984 to 1995 on issues involving toxic waste and industrial and natural disasters. From 1990 to 1995, she served as the Chief of the Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch in DEHHE, where she directed CDC's Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention program. In 1995, Dr Binder joined CDC's National Center for Infectious Diseases, where she served until most recently as the Associate Director for Medical Science, Division of Parasitic Diseases, and provided epidemiologic and programmatic leadership for CDC's program in parasitic diseases.

Debate on cycle helmet effectiveness

Dorothy Robinson and Bill Curnow have submitted lengthy comments on the July 1999 Cochrane Review, Helmets for preventing head and facial injuries in bicyclists by Diane Thompson, Fred Rivara, and Robert Thompson. The debate, their comments and the reviewers' replies form a 12 page discussion of familiar helmet issues and the quality of the Seattle group's research. The comments from Curnow and Robinson on the review and the authors' replies are posted on the Cochrane web site at www.cochrane-injuries.ich.ucl.ac.uk/HelmetComment.htm. You can reach it without subscription via the Review links page, which links to Cochrane abstracts.

Growing Canadian research network

CIRNet, the Canadian Injury Research Network is a growing consortium of multidisciplinary injury researchers, programmers, and policy makers, addressing intentional and unintentional injuries among Canadians of all ages. The purpose of this consortium is to advance injury prevention and control research in Canada by facilitating intersectoral, interdisciplinary, and crosscutting research, including dissemination and application. The network has more detail on its web site: www.smartrisk.ca/cirnet.temp.html, or via Dr Lynne Warda in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at +1 204 787 1908.

Pickup trucks

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Committee on Injury and Poison Prevention has issued a position statement on children in pickup trucks (

). The AAP recommends that occupants in pickup trucks should receive the same level of protection provided in other vehicles. The safety issues relevant for pickup trucks include prohibition of cargo area travel, and appropriate use of rear seating positions in various models of extended cab vehicles.

Inedibles in foods raised in European parliament

The ANEC Newsletter reported that in July 2000, two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) jointly asked a question in the European Parliament on the dangers to young children of inedible items in foods. The MEPs stated that the directive 88/378 on the safety of toys does not satisfy the objectives of health and security and referred to accidents caused, for example, by chocolate eggs. They urged the Commission of the European Communities to come up with further legislation on the commercialising of the inedibles. Attention was also drawn to the fact that whereas all the products involved in these accidents had the required marking indicating them being not suitable for children under 36 months, all the victims of these accidents were older. The ANEC Newsletter is available online at www.anec.org.

Queensland drownings

Between 1994 and 1998 drowning was the leading cause of death, accounting for almost 40% of all injury deaths, among under 5s in Queensland, reported the November issue of the QISU Injury Bulletin. More than half of these drownings occurred in domestic swimming pools. In the eight years leading to the introduction of varying fencing requirements for new and existing domestic pools 12 under 5s a year drowned, compared with seven per annum in subsequent years, despite significant increases in the numbers of pools. Details of how to obtain Injury Bulletin from: QISU, Mater Clinical Epidemiological Centre, c/o Mater Hospital, South Brisbane 4101, Queensland, Australia (email: mail{at}qisu.qld.gov.au, web site www.qisu.qld.gov.au).

Child injury reviews update

Thanks to a grant from the National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control, Fred Rivara and Diane Thompson will be updating the child injury reviews currently on the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center (HIPRC) web site, depts.washington.edu/hiprc. In addition, they will be conducting a Delphi survey to determine injury control topics that are appropriate for systematic reviews and create a priority list. The survey will prioritise adult and child injuries in the areas of prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation.

Violent entertainment

In September last year, the US Federal Trade Commission released a report on the marketing of violent entertainment to children. At President Clinton's request, the commission conducted a study that found that companies in the motion picture, music recording, and electronic game industries routinely targeted children under 17 with marketing efforts. This held true even for movies rated for older teens and adults. There was also little effort by retailers to restrict access to violent material. The full text is available at www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/09/youthviol.htm.

Child falls in focus

The September issue of Hazard, the excellent newsletter from the Victorian Injury Surveillance and Applied Research System at Australia's Monash University, took a close look at children's fall injuries. Bikes, monkey bars, and in-line skates rank among the top five factors contributing to fall non-trivial injuries, accounting for approximately 20% of admissions and hospital presentations. Among the under 5s, furniture, including nursery furniture, is strongly represented. The authors note that falls are the leading cause of non-fatal child injury, constituting over 40% of emergency department presentations in the state. This bumper issue of Hazard presents extensive recommendations for preventing fall injuries, as well as a detailed overview of the epidemiology of the subject. Subscriptions to Hazard (and its back copies) are available from Accident Research Centre, PO Box 70A, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia (fax: +61 (0)3 9905 1809). Recent issues and other information from the research centre can be found at www.general.monash.edu.au/muarc.

Decrease in nursery product injuries

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) released a report in September 2000 showing that nursery product injuries treated in emergency rooms had dropped by almost 20% over the past five years. This was the first decrease in such injuries to children under age 5 since the CPSC began keeping records in 1973. The report showed that from 1995 to 1999, injuries declined by more than 15 000. The downward trend is fuelled by a marked reduction in baby walker injuries. The report also showed that deaths related to cribs have dropped substantially over the years—more than 75% since the early 1970s. Baby walker related injuries to children under 15 months dropped almost 60% in the past five years from an estimated 20 100 in 1995 to 8800 in 1999 in the US. Baby walkers falling down stairs accounted for the majority of all baby walker related injuries. In recent years, the CPSC has worked to get new, safer baby walkers on the market. These new walkers are either too wide to fit through a standard doorway or have special features that stop the walker at the top step. Stationary activity centers also are now on the market.

Bouncy castle dangers

Some 650 victims of accidents involving an air cushion/“bouncy castle” were treated annually by accident and emergency departments in the Netherlands having fallen off the cushion or landed awkwardly when jumping off it, the September 2000 issue of the ANEC Newsletter reported. More than a quarter were hurt by twisting their ankles or by wrenching knees, and approximately 12% of the victims were injured in collisions with another person. Bruising, contusions, and fractures were the most common injuries. Air cushions that the public paid to use were involved in 6% of the accidents, a relatively high proportion as “bouncy castles” are not numerous. The largest group of victims are those of 5–12 years old. In the Netherlands, air cushions have been subject of safety regulations since 1997. There are no specific European standard for air cushions, although work has now started in this area.

Trampoline injuries bounce upwards

The CPSC has reported that trampoline injuries have almost tripled in the last decade—from an estimated 37 500 in 1991 to almost 100 000 in 1999. Nearly two thirds of the victims were children 6–14 years of age and about 15% involved young children under 6 years old. The CPSC has received reports of 11 deaths related to trampoline use since 1990. In 1998, an estimated 640 000 backyard trampolines were sold in the United States. Most visits to the emergency room are the result of jumpers colliding with one another, falling on the trampoline springs or frame, falling or jumping off the trampoline, or attempting somersaults and stunts. To reduce injuries, the CPSC has worked with the industry to develop a new standard for trampolines, which came into effect in 1999. Four new requirements were added to make trampolines safer and alert consumers to potential dangers: padding must completely cover the metal frame, hooks, and all springs; there must be a label on the trampoline box stating that trampolines over 20 inches tall are not recommended for children under 6 years of age; ladders cannot be sold with trampolines to prevent access by young children; and a warning label on the trampoline bed must alert consumers not to allow more than one person to jump at a time and to warn against somersaults that can cause paralysis and death.

Canada's injury control secretariat: dead or just resting?

Less than one year ago we happily announced the establishment of Canada's first national coordinating body for injury prevention and control. Under the auspices of Health Canada (the federal ministry), the secretariat was to develop a national framework for addressing injury issues across the country. Today the news is less joyful. Its three key personnel have departed due to budgetary frustrations and a dedicated but volunteer committee is left to carry on much of the work of developing the broad vision and plan that so many Canadians feel is essential for this country to make real progress. A more positive spin provided by some insiders is that the new structure is intended to ensure more direct “buy-in” from provincial governments. Time will tell.

Another US guns group

A new web site has been launched by (yet another) American group concerned about guns. Americans for Gun Safety differs from some other organizations in two major ways: it considers itself centrist and non-partisan, recognizing the “rights of law-abiding Americans to own and use guns” while urging “shared responsibility for the safe use, storage and distribution of guns by all parties”; and it is well funded, being founded by dotcom millionaire, Andrew McKelvey. See www.americansforgunsafety.com.

Global agreement on vehicle safety regulations

The agreement for the development of global regulations for vehicles came into force in August 2000 when at least eight countries and/or regional economic integration organizations have become contracting parties to the agreement (the Russian Federation, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, USA, and the European Community). The agreement, which took three years to negotiate, provides the legal framework for the development of global automotive regulations, including safety. The text of the global agreement (ECE/TRANS/132 and Corr.1) is available at www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.htm.

ISOFIX child restraints

Consumers International participated in the September 2000 meeting of ISO TC 22 Road Vehicles Working Group on child restraints, reports the ANEC Newsletter. To date, only the ISO standard on the universal child restraint ISOFIX defining the two lower anchorages of the systems has been published. Consumer groups have maintained that the ISOFIX system as presently defined is not complete and that there is a need for some method of controlling rotation (as would be provided by the provision of a top tether). European work is about to start in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Working Group on passive safety (GRSP). Consumer concerns relate to the intention to have a two stage procedure with only the lower two anchorages being specified to begin with. Consumer representatives are calling for a single stage procedure with both the lower anchorages and the top tether being defined at the same time.

NTSB meeting on booster seats in cars equipped with lap belts only

The US National Transportation Safety Board hosted a round table meeting in December 2000 to discuss the need for booster seats that can be used in vehicles with lap only belts. The goal of the meeting was to identify what actions need to be taken by the federal government, child restraint manufacturers, retailers, safety advocates, and others to increase the availability of affordable booster seats for use with lap only belts, as soon as possible. Because seat belts were designed for adults, 4–8 year old children who have outgrown their child safety seats need to be restrained in booster seats. Since all older automobiles were equipped only with lap belts in the back seat, this problem tends to impact low income and minority populations, who tend to own older vehicles. Lap/shoulder belts have been required in the outboard seating position of vehicle back seats only since 1990. Accordingly, about 34% of the cars (43 million cars) still in use have lap belts in all back seat positions. Shoulder belts are not required in the centre back seat position and many current model vehicles, including sport utility vehicles—the family car of the 90s—have only lap belts in the centre rear seat position.

Improvement to US child restraints

The US Senate has approved a broad road safety package that includes a plan by Illinois Senator Peter G Fitzgerald to improve safety standards for child car seats and booster seats. The bill goes to President Clinton for his signature. Fitzgerald's legislation calls on the federal government to modernize its outdated testing methods for child safety seats, expand efforts to protect children in various types of collisions, and close the “child safety gap” that leaves older children unprotected. The measure also calls for new federal regulations to ensure greater protection against head injuries in side impact collisions, and instructs National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency responsible for testing child safety seats, to provide parents with accurate, easy-to-understand information they can use to decide which car seat or booster is best for their children.

Review of child passenger protection

A new review of child passenger protection in the US, with many references to Canada, European, and Australian practice (Crash protection for child passengers, a review of best practice.

) is available on the web at www.umtri.umich.edu/library/pdf/weber.pdf. It can also be obtained from Kathleen Weber, Child Passenger Protection, University of Michigan Medical School, 2901 Baxter Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2150, USA (tel: +1 734 764 4722, fax: +1 734 647 3330).

Gun accidents and suicides increase among kids

Though overall firearm deaths are down across the US, an analysis of gun accidents and suicides among kids shows that within certain age groups there were startling increases. The greatest increases were among 5–9 year olds, where the number of accidental firearm deaths increased 21% and among 10–14 year olds, where there was a 21% increase in the number of firearm suicides. These findings were reported by Victoria Reggie Kennedy, president of the non-political gun safety and gun violence prevention organization Common Sense about Kids and Guns. Common Sense highlighted national mortality statistics from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics that showed how overall firearm deaths for children and teens (0–19) were down 10% in 1998, but non-homicide firearm deaths (that is, accidents and suicides) only declined 4% from 1997 to 1998 (from 1643 to 1577). Common Sense, which focuses on parental responsibility for preventing kids' unsupervised access to guns, pointed out that in non-homicide categories, especially among younger kids, there were actually increases. For kids under 15, non-homicide firearm deaths increased 4% (from 283 to 295). Among 5–9 year olds, accidental firearm deaths increased 21% (28 to 34) and among 10–14 year olds, firearm suicides increased 21% (126 to 153).

Other national research has shown that 40% of households with children under 18 reports having at least one firearm in the house, with 25% of those firearms being stored either loaded or unlocked. Nationwide, there are 1.2 million latch key children who return every afternoon to a home with no parent and an unsecured firearm. And approximately 75% of all firearm related accidents and suicides involving children and teens are committed with a firearm found at home, or the home of a relative or friend.

Common Sense about Kids and Guns has developed six simple safety tips that have been endorsed by organizations from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign to the National Shooting Sport Foundation. So whether or not someone decides to keep a gun at home, Common Sense urges all adults to follow these steps to protect kids from gun deaths and injuries: All gun owners must unload and lock up their guns; lock and store ammunition separately; and keep keys where kids are unable to find them. All parents must ask if guns are safely stored at places their kids visit or play; talk with their kids about guns; and teach young children not to touch guns and to tell an adult if they find one.

Further information: Common Sense about Kids and Guns is at www.kidsandguns.org. Common Sense about Kids and Guns, 418 C Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA (tel: +1 202 546 0200, paulm{at}kidsandguns.org).

How safe is your farm?

Between 1976 and 1998 over 220 children were killed in Britain as a result of accidents in agriculture. In addition to specific legislation such as the Prevention of Accidents to Children in Agriculture Regulations 1998, the Health and Safety Commission has recently updated and approved a code of practice giving practical guidance to those who have duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Preventing accidents to children in agriculture can be obtained (price £5.50) from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 6FS, UK (tel: +44 (0)1787 881165, fax: +44 (0)1787 313995).

Safety of farmworkers' children

The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a new book, Guidelines for the Care of Migrant Farmworkers' Children, produced in cooperation with the Migrant Clinicians Network. It includes sections on injuries as well as nutrition, well childcare, infectious diseases, and oral health. Order through AAP, www.aap.org or +1 888 227 1770.

Guide on the needs of older people

ANEC, in conjunction with RICABILITY, have produced an online guide Meeting the needs of older persons and persons with disabilities. It can be accessed via the ANEC web site www.anec.org. It contains checklists for a range of domestic appliances.

Standard for portable bed rails

Since 1990, the US CPSC has learned of 14 deaths to children, most of whom were under 2 years of age, who became entrapped in a space between the bed rail and the mattress, and 40 “near misses”. Although most manufacturers label their bed rails for children ages 2–5 years, and while the CPSC warns against placing younger children to sleep on adult beds, parents sometimes put children under 2 on beds when a crib is not available. If the bed rail is pushed out from the mattress, a younger child can fall into the space and suffocate or strangle. The commission has now voted to begin the development of a mandatory safety standard for portable bed rails, after the industry failed to take voluntary action and address the problem.

Seat belts in Northern Ireland

Almost half of all passengers killed in car accidents in Northern Ireland last year were not wearing seat belts. And more than a third of all drivers killed were also not strapped in. Statistics released by the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) showed that, of the 160 people who lost their lives on the province's roads in 1998, 31% of drivers and 46% of passengers were not wearing seat belts. The RUC said that it was disappointing that despite all the publicity about seat belts, the message is still not being heeded. They have warned that patrols will be enforcing the regulations and that those not wearing a seat belt will face severe penalties. Copies of Northern Ireland, Road Traffic Accident Statistics Annual Report are available from Rosie Mercer (email: safetycentre{at}aol.com).

Low car seat use among minorities

DaimlerChrysler Corp announced a million dollar effort in October to increase child safety seat usage by minority families through four pilot programs across America. The initiative is the second phase of the company's Fit for a Kid program. DaimlerChrysler will distribute 5000 free car seats at participating hospitals in Detroit, Miami, San Diego and San Antonio, Texas, which tend to serve minority and low income patients. To widen the appeal to Hispanics, the campaign has a new Spanish slogan, “Me Siento Seguro,” which means “I feel safe” and “I am sitting safely.”

Among children under age 4, African-Americans have the highest highway death rate, followed by Latino children. Among children ages 5–12, occupant death rates for African-Americans were almost three times those of whites, and Latinos had a death rate 60% higher than whites, according to Jim Hall, chairman of the US National Transportation Safety Board.

Canadian conference highlights

The first national Canadian conference brought more than 200 researchers, program and policy people to the beautiful Rocky Mountains last fall. Sponsored by the Alberta Centre for Injury Prevention and Control and the British Columbia Injury Research and Prevention Unit, this gathering was intended to solidify collaborative efforts and build momentum towards the next world conference in Montreal in May 2002. As with any good conference, this one provided a friendly forum for sharing good work (more than 150 posters and presentations) and for motivating people new to the field. The participants were an interesting mix of seasoned advocates and new recruits. Among the highlights were:

• A brilliant and provocative keynote address by Dinesh Mohan in which he outlined how the basic human right to safety and freedom from injury becomes increasingly complex as society becomes more complex. When individuals are no longer in control of many factors in their environment, it becomes more difficult for individuals to be responsible for their own safety. For example, we may have individual control over our behaviour as drivers, but we do not individually control the road environment, nor the sad fact that so many of us are required by employment pressures to be on the road at the same time at 8 o'clock every morning!

• A media award given to hip young Lisa Player who reports on traffic conditions for a Calgary, Alberta, rock radio station. She won the award for avoiding the “A” word and for using the medium to emphasize safety messages while she tells listeners how to avoid traffic jams. “They are a captive audience,” she said later. “They're stuck sitting in their cars. It's a natural fit”.

• A study from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto found that helmet legislation does not discourage children from cycling, contrary to famous results in Australia. After four years of Ontario's bike helmet law (which applies only to those 18 and younger), the overall rate of child cycling in the study community did not decrease. Future research on the influence of helmet legislation “can use this study as evidence that changes in injury rates are unlikely to be due to changes in childhood cycling rates”, the authors concluded.

Four million infant car seats recalled

Century Products of Macedonia, Ohio, has recalled about four million infant car seats/carriers. When the seat is used as an infant carrier, the handle can break and an infant inside the carrier can fall to the ground, suffering serious injuries. Century has received more than 2700 reports of handle related problems, including handles breaking, cracking or possibly not being locked while the seat is being used as a carrier. Century has also received over 200 reports of injury, including concussions, skull fractures, lacerations, broken bones, bruises, and scratches as a result of such handle related problems.

Teachers' resource centre on the web

Safe Kids Canada has launched a web based teachers' resource centre to make the teaching of injury prevention to primary students as easy as possible. The idea is to provide busy teachers with quick access to safety lesson plans that match their mandated curricula for kindergarten through grade 8 (ages 5–13). Eight of Canada's 13 provinces and territories will be “up” by the time of this printing. The web site can be accessed through www.safekidscanada.ca or through www.keepsafefoundation.com, the web site of the Stephanie Gaetz Keepsafe Foundation which sponsored the project. This foundation was established by figure skater and commentator Barbara Underhill and her husband Rick Gaetz in memory of their daughter.

UK speed review to start

When the standard speed limits used on Britain's road were set, traffic conditions and vehicle characteristics were very different indeed. This has prompted the government, in collaboration with European partners, to commission a detailed study of speed and speed limits in order to provide better guidance to the local councils that have responsibility for setting local limits. Factors such as land use, pedestrian flows, vehicle numbers, and highway design will be examined.

Accidental falls with kickboards (microscooters)

In 2000, there was a marked increase in the reported number of kickboard injuries in Australia, according to the September issue of Hazard, from the Monash University's Accident Research Centre. This can be attributed to their increasing popularity. From the kickboard related injuries recorded on the Victorian Emergency Minimum Dataset during the previous four years, 84% of the accidents were falls (10% from motorised kickboards). Like skateboard injuries, most of the kickboard accidents occurred on public roads (including footpaths) and at home. Seventeen per cent of these accidents required hospital admission. The kickboards have potentially better steering and braking capability than skateboards, but their two wheeled nature makes them less stable than a four wheeled skateboard. The small wheels and the friction brake require particular attention in designing kickboards. There is also the potential for serious injury caused by impact with kickboard handlebars as with bicycles.

$400 000 fine for defect reporting delay

California company Galoob Toys Inc has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $400 000 after it violated the US Consumer Product Safety Act by failing to report to the CPSC defects, and injuries to children and adults associated with its Sky Dancer dolls in a timely way. CPSC alleged that Galoob failed to report the fact that the hard plastic propeller-like wings on the dolls could fly rapidly in unpredictable directions causing injuries. Galoob received 150 injury reports, including scratched corneas and incidents of temporary blindness, a mild concussion, a broken rib, broken teeth, and facial lacerations that required stitches. CPSC and Galoob recalled about 8.9 million Sky Dancers in June 2000.

Carbon monoxide deaths in Northern Ireland

People living in Northern Ireland are three times more likely to die from carbon monoxide poisoning than anywhere else in the UK, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. This can be linked to the extensive use of solid fuel heating in the province. Most of these deaths are preventable with better maintenance and improved ventilation.

Road safety education in developing countries

TRL News reports that the British research company has recently developed a complete road safety curriculum for all primary school grades in Uganda in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the British Council. This project follows work that it has carried out with teachers and the Road Safety Council in Ghana, and with teachers and the Central Institute of Road Transport in Pune, India. Further information: Alan Quimby, TRL Ltd, Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne RG45 6AU, UK (email: international_enquiries{at}trl.co.uk).

New injury risk management centre

The Injury Risk Management Research Centre has been established within the University of NSW (in Sydney) to undertake and facilitate research on the prevention of all types of injury. The centre is intended to provide a single access point for industry and other agencies to access a wide range of disciplines and expertise in the field of injury risk management at the university and to provide a link between expertise at the University of NSW and other groups working in injury risk management, and offer a formal coordination between University of NSW staff and people from outside organisations. Initially the centre has three main areas of action: identification, gaining access to and using existing injury databases; the establishment of a NSW injury database; and its own research program. The first report of the centre concerns drowning and was presented by Centre Director, Dr Ann Williamson, at the National Drowning Conference held in Canberra in November 2000. Further information: NSW Injury Risk Management Research Centre (IRMRC) Building B10, University of New South Wales, Sydney NSW 2052 Australia (tel: +61 (0)2 9385 4207, www.irmc.unsw.edu.au).

Translating research into practice

In an attempt to improve the use that is made of research the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council has established a strategic research initiative entitled “Translational grants in injury” to fund projects aimed at translating research outcomes into policy and evidence based practice. The first grants under the scheme have been announced. As an example, a sports injury prevention project will look at the use of regulation to improve sports safety. Although regulations can be used to mandate behaviours to improve health and safety, there has been little research to demonstrate that sporting regulations for player safety actually do prevent injuries. The project aims to demonstrate how sports bodies and sporting venues can implement regulations to prevent sports injuries, using the specific example of mandatory protective eyewear for squash players. Further information: Associate Professor Caroline Finch, Director, Sports Injury Prevention Research Unit, Deakin University, Burwood Victoria 3125 Australia (tel: +61 (0)3 9251 7084, email: cfinch{at}deakin.edu.au).