There are very few real accidents, according to Dr. Tarek Razek.
Razek is the Chief of Trauma at the McGill University Health Centre, and he is trying to spread the word about safety. He is giving a talk this weekend at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 21 at Place Bonaventure as part of the Health, Fitness and Lifestyle Show.
He says trauma is the number one cause of death for all people under the age of 45, and the fourth leading cause of death among North Americans.
Greater Montreal has the highest rate of pediatric drowning and the highest per capita pedestrian injury rate in North America.
"Most of these events are so tragic, and yet so preventable," he said.
Focus on pedestrian safety
He says the best way for injury prevention is for Montrealers to show respect towards one another.
"I put the question to every Montrealer when they say 'Well, it's not so bad in Montreal, things are fine.' Do you feel safe crossing at a cross walk in this city?" said Razek. "And how do you think a 75-year-old or an 8-year-old is going to manage at a cross walk-- a designed interface where the pedestrian is supposed to be able to cross the street?
"I think it's an element of just doing the right thing," he said.
