FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Nafukho Co-Authors Book Aimed at Reducing Injuries in Crashes
Fredrick Nafukho
Fredrick Nafukho, University of Arkansas associate professor of adult education and workforce development education, is one of four authors of a new training manual for professionals who work to reduce traffic injuries.
Road Traffic Injury Prevention, published by the World Health Organization and the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, is designed for a multidisciplinary audience – medical doctors, nurses, transport and road engineers, vehicle safety professionals, law enforcers, policy-makers, trainers and social scientists – people who can build a stronger capacity to lessen the number of injuries.
Nafukho pointed out that even the terms used when talking about traffic injuries and deaths can influence thinking.
“Dinesh Mohan, a professor of biomechanics at the Indian Institute of Technology and a leading expert in the field of traffic injury prevention, calls them crashes, not accidents,” Nafukho said. “The word accident implies that nothing can be done to prevent it from happening. We know that is not true, and this book helps teach people how to prevent needless suffering.”
Road Traffic Injury Prevention can be read online or downloaded free at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241546751_eng.pdf.
About 1.2 million people in the world died as a result of road traffic collisions in 2002, according to the book, with another 20 million to 50 million injured or disabled. The topic is neglected as a health and development issue because wrecks are viewed by many as being beyond human control.
The book outlines the importance of collecting data in formulating plans to reduce traffic injuries. It looks at prevention efforts across the globe – from speed bumps in Ghana to use of daytime running lights by motorcyclists in Malaysia and Singapore. It looks at post-crash efforts, as well, from trauma team training for rural needs in Uganda to the role of lay bystanders and how to put together a first-aid kit. It describes public awareness efforts ranging from the Safe Community Movement in Sweden to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, which originated in the United States.
Policy-makers, researchers and practitioners need information on effective prevention measures and how to develop, implement and evaluate such interventions, the authors say. The book covers fundamental aspects of preventing road traffic injuries:
· Magnitude and impact of road traffic injuries.
· Risk factors of road traffic injuries.
· Importance of evidence as a foundation for prevention.
· Implementing specific interventions to prevent road traffic injuries.
· Delivering post-crash care.
· Multisectoral collaboration.
· Formulating and implementing road safety policy.
The training manual is part of a series of training and evidence resources that have been developed by the World Health Organization to help prevent violence and injuries and to promote good health.
Nafukho, who also serves as assistant department head in the department of rehabilitation, human resources and communication disorders in the College of Education and Health Professions, has co-authored two other books: Training of Trainers: Strategies for 21st Century and Foundations of Adult Education in Africa. He is currently working on another book, Leadership and Management of Adult Education Programs in Africa.
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Contact:
Heidi Stambuck, director of communications
College of Education and Health Professions
(479) 575-3138, stambuck@uark.edu