It all started in Falköping, Sweden: Safe Communities – global thinking and local action for safety

In memoriam: Leif Svanström (1943-2023)

Leif Svanström, born in Västervik, Sweden, on 30 October 1943, was a big man in physical and intellectual stature, persona and impact. Leif trained at Lund University, obtaining a BA in Genetics and Society in 1966, an MD in Preventative Medicine in 1972 and a PhD in Accident Prevention and Injury Control in 1973. He was appointed associate professor in the Department of Social Science at Lund University in 1978 and subsequently professor of Social Medicine at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, in 1980. The research group he led generated over 30 doctorate dissertations, 6 professors, more than 1000 papers and 20 textbooks. In 1989, he chaired the inaugural World Conference on Accident and Injury Prevention in Stockholm, Sweden, a conference that remains the premier international forum for injury prevention and safety promotion. Leif championed place-based, analytical, interdisciplinary, intersectoral, real-world injury prevention and safety promotion practice, culminating in the development of the Safe Community Model that spread internationally and ultimately created a network of over 430 designated International Safe Communities, with a population footprint of over 100 million people. For all these laudable achievements, it was Leif's charismatic ability to inspire, teach, support, motivate and sustain those around him that produced his profound impact on the practice of injury prevention and safety promotion throughout the world. Leif Svanström passed away in Sweden on 29 January 2023 at age 79.

Application and Developmental Strategies for Community-Based Injury Prevention Programs of the International Safe Communities Movement in Korea

PURPOSE

Safety of humans is an important factor that affects health overall, and injuries are one of the major public-health problems in the world. The purposes of this study were to describe the International safe Community movement which contributes to the injury prevention and safety promotion all over the world, and to identify out the application and developmental strategies for Korea.

METHODS

A review was done of previous research, reviews, and reports on the history, concepts, basic principles, and recommendations for actions of the Safe Community.

RESULTS

For this study, the application strategies of the International Safe Community movement in Korea were examined to deduce the strengths of the safe Community program. Community-based injury prevention work according to the International Safe Community model is a successful and cost-effective way of reducing injuries in the community.

CONCLUSION

Through the International Safe Community program, communities are able to realize a healthy community and achieve improved quality of lives for the people, which is the ultimate objective of the Safe Community model. In addition, it will contribute to the economic vitalization and gain through energy and enhancement of productivity of people.

The magnitude of injury problems among child labourers in a rural community of Bangladesh: findings from an injury surveillance system

BACKGROUND

Child labour is an important topic in contemporary society. In this study we have tried to explore the magnitude of injury problems among child labourers in Bangladesh using an injury surveillance system.

METHODS

An injury surveillance system (ISS) was performed under the Prevention of Child Injuries through Social intervention and Education (PRECISE) project in Bangladesh during 2006-2010 in three sub-districts covering a population of more than 700,000. We used the ISS for assessing child labour. Appropriate epidemiological methods were considered in the study.

RESULTS

Considering the reported main occupation of the children, 30% of children from the surveillance households were identified as child labourers. More than two thirds of child labourers were educated to primary or secondary level. The majority of boys worked as unskilled labourers and girls were employed in domestic work. The incidence of injury and deaths among child labourers was estimated as 24 per 100,000 children years. More than 19 injury related illnesses of moderate to severe intensity were found among 1000 child labourers in a year. Fractures, sprains, dislocations, cuts/wounds, animal bites, abrasions or lacerations, burns, head injuries and internal organ injuries are most common among child labourers.

CONCLUSIONS

Working children are at risk of injury, death and illness in Bangladesh. Child labourers are now even more clearly tied to quantified morbidity and mortality.