Injury Prevention Calendar

School and Community Resources for Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month

Updated 10/25/2024

October is Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month in Texas. The Texas Education Agency’s Fentanyl Response Awareness Toolkit provides resources that can help Texas school systems and communities support awareness throughout the month of October.

Webinar Opportunity
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) invites public schools, open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools to attend the Understanding Opioids: Misuse, Awareness, and Resources for Schools webinars. The webinars are hosted by the Texas Education Agency, in collaboration with DSHS and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Webinar topics include:

• Information on opioid misuse in Texas;
• Opioid antagonist policies on school campuses;
• Relevant Texas Education Code and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills; and
• Available educational resources.

The webinar will occur on October 29 from 1-2 p.m. and November 5 from 9-10 a.m. To attend the webinar on either day, sign up by clicking on one of the following registration links: October 29 from 1-2 p.m. or November 5 from 9-10 a.m.

Questions? Email DSHS School Health Program at schoolhealth@dshs.texas.gov.

October is National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month

Updated 10/21/2024

October is a great time to highlight youth substance use prevention work. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “Studies show that the earlier in life a young person starts using alcohol or other drugs, the greater their lifetime risk of misuse or addiction.”

Youth substance use prevention starts with conversations – early and often. Substance use prevention includes easy access to prevention resources for people from all walks of life. These prevention resources should be data-driven and tailored to each unique community.

Addressing youth substance use before it happens is a key part of preventing future injury.

Resources:

• Proclamation on National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, 2024, White House
• Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, SAMHSA
• Texas Overdose Data to Action, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
• Texas One Pill Kills, Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
• Texas Targeted Opioid Response, (HHSC)

October 20-26, 2024, is Teen Driver Safety Week

Updated 10/8/2024

According to Prevent Child Injury, car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 15 to 19 years. Teens whose parents set rules and monitor their driving in a helpful, supportive way are half as likely to be in a crash and 71% less likely to drive impaired. Read this fact sheet to learn more about steps parents can take to teach their teens safe driving skills.

We can work together to prevent teen injury and death on the road. Learn more and share the tips, facts, and safe teen driving messaging during Teen Driver Safety week and throughout the year.

Resources:

• Car Crashes Are the #1 Cause of Preventable Death for Teens, National Safety Council
• Teen Distracted Driver Data, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Teen Driver Safety, NHTSA
• Teen Driving, Prevent Child Injury
• Risk Factors for Teen Drivers, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

Updated 10/3/2024

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID), which includes Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), is the leading cause of injury death in infancy. In 2022, SUID deaths increased from 3,400 to 3,700. Sleep is a big challenge for families with babies, but following safe sleep recommendations can prevent many SUID fatalities. In October and all year long, you can learn more about how to reduce the risk of SIDS and other sleep-related infant deaths.

Education and information are vital to preventing infant and childhood injury and death. Check out the upcoming safe sleep webinar and resources below to learn more.

Webinar Opportunity

On October 22, 2024, from 11 to 12 p.m. CDT, the Texas Department of State Health Services Perinatal and Infant Health and Safety Team and Children’s Safety Network will host the Helping Communities Build Sustainable Safe Infant Sleep Programs webinar. Participants will learn about basic principles of quality improvement and sustainability and will connect with state and national safe infant sleep technical advisors. Register here.

Resources:

• Safe Sleep, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Safe Infant Sleep, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
• Safe Sleep Recommendations, Texas DSHS
• Safe to Sleep, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
• Reduce Baby’s Risk, (NICHD)

Texas Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Education Series Open for Registration

Published 8/21/2024

The Texas Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Education Series helps equip prehospital providers with the necessary knowledge to provide optimal care for children during emergencies.

This monthly series runs through July 2025. These 1-hour virtual sessions highlight evidence-based or best practice guidelines and resources for adoption in EMS agencies. Topics include pediatric triage tools, multi-system trauma, airway and respiratory management, and non-accidental trauma.

Learn more about the series in this PDF or follow this link to register.

The Texas Department of State Health Services does not endorse external links to other websites or documents created by other agencies. These links and documents are informational and may not be accessible to persons with disabilities.