Malowany, N.

Evidence-Based Injury Prevention for Elementary School Children in Alberta
Belton, K., Malowany, N.

Introduction: The Injury Prevention Centre (IPC) is currently developing an evidence-based injury prevention (IP) 'toolkit' to be disseminated in elementary schools across Alberta. This toolkit will comprise of developmentally-appropriate programs, activities, and curricula to improve safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among students in Grades 1-6. The toolkit will be developed over the span of four phases. To date, phase one of the project (i.e. literature review and environmental scan) has been completed.

Context: The literature review identified effective pedagogical practices to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among children in Grades 1-6, utilizing a developmentally-specific design (i.e. Grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6). The environmental scan identified current elementary IP programs, activities, and curricula. An Advisory Committee (AC) was convened, comprised of child IP experts across Canada. To inform subsequent project work, the IPC will invite elementary school staff such as teachers and principals, as well curriculum developers at Alberta Education (AE) to serve on the AC.

Significance: Injury remains the leading cause of death and reason for hospitalization among elementary school-aged children in Alberta. Despite this alarming data, there remains a significant lack of evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate IP programs, activities, and curricula that are designed for an elementary school audience. In response to this gap, the IPC will develop, pilot, and disseminate an evidence-based IP curriculum in an effort to increase safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours among Albertan children in Grades 1-6.

Implications for future directions: Phase one of the project identified the need for close collaboration with AE to ensure the success of the toolkit. Due to a recent change in provincial government, partners at AE have been unable to comment on the future direction of the elementary school curriculum in Alberta. Continued effort to work alongside AE despite potential curriculum changes will be critical to the overall success of the toolkit.