Help solve a national problem, win $10,000

12 March 2012

Help solve a national problem, win $10,000

ACC is launching a competition calling on Kiwis to use their number eight wire thinking to come up with ideas that will help prevent falls in and around the home.

Falls are a national problem and every year they disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. The estimated social and economic cost of all falls in 2010 was $1.8 billion and half of all falls happen in and around the home.

The cost to the injured individuals is significant. Falls not only cause pain but they also disrupt family plans, cause tensions in relationships and put pressure on households having to survive on a reduced income.

Public Injury Insurance Manager Sacha O'Dea said a fall can affect anyone and can cause lasting damage.

"We tend to think that it is only older people and children who fall over but every year more than 100,000 working age people like you and me are injured in falls. In fact, falls are the leading cause of hospitalisations among the working age population in New Zealand, said Sacha.

"People also think that falls are inevitable and therefore cannot be prevented. But we all have the power to make changes in our own homes that can reduce the risk of a fall," she added.

Falls are complex events. There is no single cause or reason for the high rate of falls. But we know rushing, wet surfaces, darkness, tiredness, heights, distraction, unexpected hazards on the floor, and alcohol all play a part.

To help prevent falls, ACC is launching a nationwide competition called Idea Nation and is calling on all New Zealanders to come up with ideas to reduce the number and severity of falls in the home among working age people.

The competition is open to all New Zealanders from 12 March to 27 April and there is a $10,000 prize for the winners of each of the following categories: secondary students and schools; tertiary organisations, students and staff; business; and general public.

"There are very few evidence-based solutions for tackling falls among working age people worldwide. We know that New Zealand is a nation of innovators and creative thinkers so we are calling on Kiwis to use their number eight wire thinking to help us solve this problem. These ideas could literally be anything," said Sacha.

ACC intends to trial some of the ideas it thinks have merit, and the person or organisation who submitted the idea could be involved further if they wish.

For more information about Idea Nation and how to get involved, visit www.ideanation.co.nz.

ENDS

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