The National Accident Prevention Week, implemented annually by the Health Ministry begins today (7). This week will be held from today until July 11 and this year marks the tenth National Accident Prevention Week.
Road Accident Prevention Day falls on today (7), Workplace Accident Prevention Day on 8, Home and Elderly Home Accident Prevention Day on 9h, Drowning Prevention Day on 10 and Schools, Preschools and Day Care Center Accident Prevention Day falls on 11.
The Health Ministry points out that one in seven people in the country’s total population may be involved in an accident that requires medical attention annually, and that at least 6 to 8 Sri Lankans may be involved in an accident that requires medical attention every minute.
Around 2500 to 3000 patients in Sri Lanka who are referred to hospitals for treatment due to accidents die annually, and accidents are ranked 10th among the factors causing deaths in hospitals.
The Health Ministry states that out of the total deaths of 145,000 that occur annually in Sri Lanka, 8 percent or about 10,000-12,000 people lose their lives due to accidents, and that at least 4 people lose their lives to various accidents every three hours.
