A Public Health Perspective of Road Traffic Accidents

Road traffic accidents (RTAs) have emerged as an important public health issue which
needs to be tackled by a multi-disciplinary approach. The trend in RTA injuries and death is
becoming alarming in countries like India. The number of fatal and disabling road accident
happening is increasing day by day and is a real public health challenge for all the concerned
agencies to prevent it. The approach to implement the rules and regulations available to
prevent road accidents is often ineffective and half-hearted. Awareness creation, strict
implementation of traffic rules, and scientific engineering measures are the need of the hour to
prevent this public health catastrophe. This article is intended to create awareness among the
health professionals about the various modalities available to prevent road accidents and also
to inculcate a sense of responsibility toward spreading the message of road safety as a good
citizen of our country.

Motorization has enhanced the lives of many individuals and societies, but the benefits
have come with a price. Although the number of lives lost in road accidents in high-income
countries indicate a downward trend in recent decades, for most of the world's population, the
burden of road-traffic injury—in terms of societal and economic costs—is rising
substantially.Injury and deaths due to road traffic accidents (RTA) are a major public health
problem in developing countries where more than 85% of all deaths and 90% of disability-
adjusted life years were lost from road traffic injuries.

As a developing country, India is no exception. Not a day passes without RTA happening in the
roads in India in which countless number of people are killed or disabled. Often members of the
whole family are wiped out. Those who are affected or killed are mostly people in their prime
productive age. The highest burden of injuries and fatalities is borne disproportionately by poor
people, as they are mostly pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers of buses and minibuses.

The data for fatal accidents presented to the Parliament by the Ministry of Road Transport and
Highways for year 2008 shows that 119,860 people perished in mishaps that year and the
national and state highways accounted for nearly half of all road accidents. Deaths due to road
accidents in 2009 were reported to be 126,896 and in 2010 it increased to 133,938 which is
about 5.5% over and above the previous year's
deaths…ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3893966/

My observations on the article "A Public Health Perspective on Traffic Accidents" is that
many people have avoided taking public transportation since Covid19. Bike riding is becoming
more popular among families. Electric automobiles, on the other hand, are gaining popularity.
Because they are silent, you or your children may not hear them approaching. As a result, our
highways are hazardous.

First, in pedestrian, at least eight years old, children have difficulty judging speed and
distance.We need to show that you're serious about young children holding your hand near the
road. Toddlers may resist, but now is a good moment to stand firm. Especially with the
inconsistency of traffic and other diversions. Because many individuals, particularly youngsters,
are distracted while out and about by their phones. As a result, individuals are less attentive of
threats such as other people or cars in their environment. If your kid insists on using
headphones, advise them to choose ear bud styles and to use only one side. Second, cyclists are
some of the most vulnerable road users. All bikers must know what to do (and what not to do)
in the event of an accident. Reinforce the necessity of not passing lorries, buses, and other large
vehicles on the inside lane if you're cycling with kids or teens. Wearing a helmet at all times is
the simplest method to safeguard children (and yourself). Even if it's only a fast lap around the
block or a stroll through the park. Lastly, are the drivers, of course, Finally, there are the drivers.
The contrast in a child's odds of surviving if hit by a car is mind-boggling. Most children will
survive if the speed is less than 20 mph; if the speed is greater than 20 mph, nearly all will die
or suffer major life-altering injuries.In overcrowded locations or when you notice youngsters
playing, it is critical to slow down. It only takes a fraction of a second to take someone's life.
When driving, resist the temptation to look at your phone. Stuff is probably easier to keep it out
of reach if you get into the habit of doing so. Remember to use the appropriate child car seat or
booster seat for your child's weight and height, regardless of how brief your travel is.
 In conclusion, first aid is the care given to a person who is suffering from a small or
significant disease or injury, with the goal of preserving life, preventing the condition from
worsening, or promoting recovery. Lessons can be learned from the eminent principles and
excellent practices for appropriate road behavior used in developed countries, where
individuals are taught to be safe, orderly, and disciplined no matter what.

Participatory Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation (PHAST) in a Remote and Isolated

Community in Samar Province, Philippines

Diarrheal disease is one of the leading causes of death in children under five years old,
most people who die from this disease actually die from severe dehydration and fluid loss.
Moreover, 88% of its global diarrheal disease is attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate
sanitation, and hygiene. This investigation was developed to determine the effect of
Participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) program in an isolated community
of Mabini,Samar Province, Philippines. Longitudinal research design was used in order to
determine the effect of the program one year was implemented in the community. A purposive
sampling was utilized in this investigation which accounts a total of 39 households in Mabini
community, Basey, Samar, without toilet facilities. The instrument used was the modified
questionnaire of Philippine Red Cross in water and sanitation before and after the program was
implemented. Results showed that there was improvement of knowledge on water and
sanitation, handwashing practice, household waste practices drinking practices, defecation
practices. Thus, program reaching the most isolated and difficult area experiencing the most
detrimental effects which improve poor hygiene and sanitation, improving health, equality and
social justice.

This study utilized a longitudinal research design in order to determine the effect of
Participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) program to the community. This
study was appropriate in order the evaluate of its effect of the program to the community. The
baseline assessment was conducted on June 2012; meanwhile the endline assessment was
conducted on August 2013 which after the program was implemented.
 The recommendations of this research were active in participation of the community.
Good strategic planning in partaking the entire household should take place in the community
itself. Moreover, house to house information dissemination with regards to the promotion
activities is also needed to increase awareness in knowledge and practice in hygiene and
sanitation. Also, continues re-update trainings among community health volunteers to have a
quality in facilitating health promotion to the community…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4709702/

The year 2020 will go down as the best as the year when handwashing became a widely
accepted practice. The coronavirus pandemic not only generated major global awareness
campaigns for handwashing, but it also provided food safety practitioners with a platform for
advocating sanitary habits as the simple yet uncontested foundation of public health.One of the
most important aspects of our daily lives is maintaining adequate personal hygiene. Many
people in rural areas may not know the difference between good and bad personal hygiene.

My reaction to how vital cleanliness is for both personal and environmental hygiene
during this epidemic is that increasing handwashing and hygiene awareness initiatives around
the world should be at the top of the list. Never before has there been such a large-scale
handwashing campaign. The message was everywhere, from flyers to door signs to articles,
slogans, memes, films, social media, and television. Wear a mask, keep your distance, and wash
your hands were the messages to everyone on the earth. Separation and cleanliness, two of the
overarching principles that keep food and consumers safe, enshrine virtually the same elements
of food safety.By consuming germs, viruses, parasites, and harmful substances contaminated
food and drink. The majority of techniques for preventing these diseases entail doing extensive
risk assessments and putting in place a number of preventive interventions. Although it would
be impossible to perfect the effectiveness of these strategies by targeting every single disease,
this is definitely the goal of a holistic food safety system based on prevention. Handwashing is
an important part of basic infection control since it is one of the most straightforward ways to
prevent the spread of foodborne pathogens from person to person, person to food, and from
surfaces to people or food. In addition, the importance of personal cleanliness does not end at
the wrists. It refers to a person's overall state of hygiene. During the epidemic, it became clear
that these precautions apply to personal health and wellness as well.

In general, we’re in new area right now, and there's a lot to learn. Hand hygiene is an
important part of minimizing germs that might cause sickness. Many hospitals may face
difficulty in monitoring hand hygiene performance by direct observation throughout the
pandemic. Hospitals may benefit in the future from employing technology to collect data on
hand hygiene and analyze behavior.