IBC “heads north” to promote safety message

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is heading to North Bay to spend the month promoting “Injury Prevention Month”. “This campaign is designed to communicate important safety messages to people of all ages and to bring practical support for all the good work already undertaken in this community,” IBC vice president of public affairs and marketing, Mary Lou O’Reilly, says of the month-long North Bay initiative. The IBC selected North Bay because the city is already undertaking a number of safety projects, including the “Partners in Trauma Prevention”.North Bay Mayor Victor Fedeli says, “although our city has an excellent record as a caring and safety conscious community, it is my hope that the activities taking place during Injury Prevention Month will further encourage North Bay residents to be aware of potential hazards that are present in everyday life.”Mayor Fedeli, IBC representatives, other community safety experts and the famous “Elmer the Safety Elephant” were on hand for a new conference to launch the event Tuesday.The IBC points to Statistics Canada figures which suggest unintentional injuries cost Canadians about $8.7 billion per year. Insurers have used the bureau to advance several safety-related initiatives, including campaigning for seatbelt laws, anti-drinking & driving campaigns, and the current campaign to promote proper vehicle headrest adjustment to prevent whiplash-related injuries.