Priority areas
Objectives
Activities
Contact us
Who are we?
Injury Free Counties Manukau (IFCM) works to reduce the number and severity of unintentional injuries in Counties Manukau region.
The project is based within Auckland Council on a contractual basis and is fully funded by the 
Ministry of Health. A Programme Advisory Group provides strategic and technical advice.
The Injury Free Counties Manukau (IFCM) Team consists of three co-ordinators focusing on the Maori, Pacific and General populations. The co-ordinators work with. government and non-government stakeholders and network groups at a local, regional, and national level.
According to the Safe Community Foundation NZ, the majority of injuries are preventable. The IFCM team works towards reducing severity of injury by providing community education and the distribution of information to networks. The team supports stakeholder activities and partnership projects and assists community/groups with advocacy to local and central government.
In New Zealand, injury (unintentional & intentional) is the leading cause of death for ages 1-34 years and the second leading cause of hospitalisation. Injuries also account for more potential years of life lost than cancer and heart disease combined. In childhood, injury accounts for approximately 60% of deaths by adolescence; and young adulthood injury (including suicides) accounts for approximately 80% of deaths.
ACC statistics reflect that:
- almost 10,000 people were off work in 2009, for more than a week as a result of a fall at home
- falls in the home are the most common cause of injuries to children and those under 5 years require more trips to the doctor than any other age group.
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IFCM priority areas
- Falls in the young (0-14 years) and older people (55 years and over)
- Water safety (drowning prevention)
- Child injury including burns and scalds, childhood fall injuries, cutting & piercing and water safety / drowning prevention
- Driveway Run-over prevention.
IFCM objectives
- Promote a safety culture in Counties Manukau, by raising awareness within the community and strengthening capacity and capability of those in the injury prevention sector
- Investigate the potential for, encourage, support and develop collaborative projects for injury prevention, with key stakeholder agencies
- Promote the development of policies, practices and products by councils and agencies
- Provide a leadership role in injury prevention issues.
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Activities
Falls Prevention
The team works with community groups and agencies to develop a falls prevention programme. The IFCM team has worked in partnership with Age Concern to deliver Step Ahead programme for Pacific community groups and Modified Tai Chi.
Whanau Nui Swim Programme (drowning prevention)
The programme aims to build the skill level of water safety and water confidence . The focus of the sessions is to give the participant and their parent water safety messages and water orientation activities. These sessions build confidence and enable the person to think and act wisely if they should find themselves in a difficult situation. The number of children in our communities in the 10-15 year age group who are unable to swim 25 metres is a stark reminder that there is an ongoing need for water safety initiatives.
Family participating in a whanau nui swim class
Burn and scald prevention
Burn and scald prevention through the ‘train the trainer’ workshops, is particularly for early childhood teachers. The National Burn Unit at Middlemore Hospital has highlighted that hot liquid burns for under five year old admissions continue to be an ongoing issue for local communities and their families. These occur mainly through hot drinks, hot jugs, hot noodles and incorrect temperature of bath water.
Seconds to burn, 20 minutes under cold water to cool.
Driveway run-over prevention
Driveway run-over prevention is addressed through a regional group responsible for delivery to their community. An interactive teaching resource has been developed consisting of three toddler life-sized manikins and a seven metre mat which is laid out behind a vehicle. Participants get into the vehicle and see what is visible to them through the rear and side mirrors. The message Check, Supervise and Separate is discussed.
A DVD resource has been developed by IFCM and is available to organisations and community groups to further raise awareness. Statistics show an average of two incidents per month are reported to the Starship Hospital. .
Click through to watch the video.
Driveway runover prevention - table top example
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Contact us
Pacific
Alisi Katoanga
Phone: 09 262 8900 ext 8731
Email: alisi.katoanga@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
General
Lauren Van Coller
Phone: 09 262 8964
Email: lauren.vancoller@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
Māori
Shiree Pihama
Phone: 09 262 8900 ext 8904
Email: shiree.pihama@manukau.govt.nz
Community Safety Team, South
Level 6 Civic Building
31-33 Manukau Station Road
Manukau
Auckland 2241
IFCM will support the following events:
- Franklin Ageing Expo: 23 September 2011
- Parent & Child Show: 30 September-2 October
- Age Concern - Age Friendly City Workshop: 7 October 2011.
3 Lakewood Court, Manukau City
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