Services Emergency Care Resources, Outreach and Prevention Injury Prevention Programs

Injury Prevention Programs

While UMC offers leading treatments as a Level 1 Trauma Center, we invest in programs that prevent injury before it occurs. Injury Prevention Programs include driving and car seat courses, Safe Kids Lubbock, and day-to-day safety information that keeps us healthy and secure.

Matter of Balance

Each year, over 2.5 million older people are treated in Emergency Departments for fall injuries, and at least 250,000 are hospitalized for hip fractures. UMC Trauma Services and UMC Activities Center have partnered to bring the Matter of Balance Fall Prevention Class to the community. Participants learn strategies for making their home environments safe and for preventing falls.

AARP Smart Driver Course

The AARP Smart Driver course is specifically designed for drivers age 50 and older. In many states, drivers may benefit from a discount on their auto insurance premium upon completing the course. More than 90% of car crashes are preventable. Motor vehicle accidents are the #1 leading cause of deaths in adult and children. UMC Trauma and Burn Services has partnered with the AARP organization to provide a four-hour driving course. Class is $20.00 for AARP members and $25.00 for non-members. Check back to this website or contact AARP to see next available class.

Car Seat Safety Events/Classes

Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths in children in the United States. UMC has a number of Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) who provide car seat events and classes in partnership with DSHS Safe Riders Program. Check back to this website for upcoming classes at UMC.

  • Get a Car Seat- For self-certified low-income families, UMC Health System provides one car seat for each child in the household. You must be the child’s legal guardian to obtain the seat.
  • Correctly Install your Car Seat- 73 percent of car seats are not used correctly. A CPST will ensure your seat is installed correctly. Correctly used car seats can reduce the risk of deaths by as much as 71 percent.
  • Check Car Seat Label- Ensure the car seat is appropriate for your child’s age, weight, and height.
  • Buckle Up- Everyone in your vehicle must wear a seatbelt. Buckling up the correct way is the single most important thing a family can do!

For more on car seat safety, visit: www.safekids.org/car-seat

UMC Car Seat Class Information

  • Classes are held monthly and child’s legal guardian must attend.
  • Parents can call 806.761.0660 to register for the class.
  • When you register please provide the child’s age and weight.
  • Pregnant mothers will need to be in the 3rd trimester to obtain a seat.

Safe Kids Lubbock – Leading the Region

Note:  links and other assets for this section can be found at https://www.umchealthsystem.com/services/emergency-care/emergency-care-services-and-programs/burn-care/safe-kids-injury-prevention/

UMC is dedicated to leading the region in injury prevention for children. We are the only Safe Kids Lead Agency for the surrounding area. Safe Kids Lubbock continues to seek new opportunities to prevent childhood injuries and works closely with local businesses, schools, and partners to distribute critical information to prevent traumatic injuries and keep our children safe.

Liquid and Steam Burn Prevention

  • Set your water heater at 120 degrees F/48 degrees C or just below the medium setting.
  • Use a thermometer to test the water coming out of your bath water tap.
  • Run your hand through bath water to test for hot spots.
  • Use back burners and turn pot handles toward the back of the stove so children cannot pull them down.
  • Use oven mitts when cooking or handling hot food and drinks.
  • Stir and test food cooked in the microwave before serving. Open heated containers away from you from back to front.
  • Keep children away from the stove when cooking by using a safety gate for younger children and marking with tape a 3-foot “no-kid zone” for older children.
  • Keep hot drinks away from the edge of tables and counters and avoid using tablecloths and placemats.
  • Use a “travel mug” with a tight-fitting lid for all hot drinks.
  • Never hold or carry a child while you have a hot drink in your hand.

Cooking Safety

Fireworks Safety

  • Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
  • A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children.
  • Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
  • Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
  • Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
  • Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
  • Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby.
  • Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
  • Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.
  • Dispose of spent fireworks by wetting them down and place in a metal trash can away from any building or combustible materials until the next day.

http://www.fireworkssafety.org/safety-tips/

Home Safety

  • Install smoke alarms in your home (inside bedrooms, outside sleeping areas)
  • Test smoke alarms each month
  • Have a fire escape plan
  • If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT and CALL FOR HELP
  • Avoid space heaters
  • Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in your home
  • Place lit candles where they can’t be reached or knocked over by pets or children
  • Don’t leave candles unattended

For additional safety tips, click here

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