Same-level falls are the second leading cause of injury seen at OHSU Trauma Center, and the leading cause of death and injury for Americans over the age of 65. Fall prevention education is a priority for the OHSU Trauma Center to reduce injuries and improve quality of life. We offer several programs to support this goal.
 
Matter of Balance: This program runs for eight weeks, with two-hour sessions each week. It is designed to benefit older adults who are concerned about falling, have fallen in the past or restrict their daily activities because of concerns about falling. To register, email traumaeducation@ohsu.edu.
 
Fall prevention seminars: OHSU offers these free sessions once a month. Seminars cover topics such as:

• Fall facts and statistics 
• Factors that increase the risk of falls
• Environmental factors
• Medications
• What to do if you fall
• How to get up after falling
• Home safety checklist

Our team also developed this educational video series to help with fall prevention.

Public health advocacy: Since 2016, OHSU has advocated to treat gun violence as a public health issue. Our work on an advisory committee with representatives from Portland State University, the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, county, state and city governments, mental health groups, advocacy groups and nonprofit and volunteer outreach programs laid the groundwork for this important initiative.

Gun locks and home safety resources: We partner with the Tom Sargent Safety Center at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital to connect gun owners with safety tools and education. This includes firearm lock boxes and trigger locks available for purchase, cable locks available at no cost and information about how to keep children safe with guns in the home. 

In response to the recent increase in traumatic injuries such as gunshots and stab wounds, OHSU partners with the nonprofit Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center to offer the Healing Hurt People program. Working with 
Healing Hurt people serves people of color from ages 10 to 35 who have survived these types of injuries. The program aims to connect with participants quickly because research shows that intervening within four hours of a trauma increases the chances of preventing future violence. We then work with victims and their families for six months to a year, helping them on the road to healing.  

The program offers 24/7 support. This includes trauma-informed counseling, relocation services, peer mentorship, referrals for social and emotional support, and other wraparound services.

Blood loss from injuries can happen anywhere, any time. It may result from a minor injury or become a life-threatening concern. The OHSU Trauma center offers the Stop the Bleed training course to teach bystanders to become an immediate responder and save lives. 

This two-hour class provides skills so you can recognize life-threatening bleeding and act quickly to stop it.  You’ll learn how to apply direct pressure, pack a wound and apply a tourniquet.

To register or to find out how OHSU Trauma Center can bring this training to your facility, email traumaeducation@ohsu.edu.

Along with our outreach programs and courses, the OHSU trauma team also organizes events linked to national initiatives such as:

• Burn Awareness Week (February)
• Trauma Awareness Month (May)
• National Stop the Bleed Month (May)
• Falls Prevention Awareness Week (September)