Introduction The need to prevent falls and related injuries among seniors is a signifi cant public health issue in Canada, and all nations where an aging demographic puts higher numbers at risk. To address this costly and complex problem, a sustained collaboration has occurred over the past 20 years among falls prevention leaders within government, the health system, academia and local communities. Methods This review summarizes key elements of a coordinated, public health approach to the prevention of falls and related injuries among those aged 65 years, with an epidemiological analysis of fall-related hospital and mortality data for persons aged 65 years and older. Review methods included a synthesis of historical records, a scan of existing programs and fi ndings from in-depth interviews with key informants. Results Outcomes of this sustained approach include a significant reduction in fall-related hospitalization and death rates in some Canadian provinces, which is paralleled by a growth

and Dentistry, under the direction of Dr. Harold Hodge, to determine to what extent the effects of therapeutic drugs and exposure to toxic chemicals contribute to the high death and disability rates due to accidents. This study is part of a wider consideration of the medical aspects of accident control, and is concerned particularly with the problem of injuries and poisonings which occur in homes and on farms. There is special emphasis on the etiology of accidents to children between the ages of 1 and 20 years, since accidents are the Downloaded From: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/ by a University of Manitoba User on 06/10/2015