The programme covers the following safety promotion activities:

For the age groups:
In the municipality of Larvik children and youth represent the area which receives most attention. There are approx. 10.000 children and young at the age of 0 – 18 years in the municipality. In our strategic document for 2002, there is focus on Safe Communities, from the public health care centre to the family centre, with a view to strict follow-up routines regarding to younger users. Research has been done in schools and kindergartens, and the Youth Research forms a basis for decisions with respect to strategic choices and objectives. 

Children 0-14:
The childrens nurse and the school nurse are the most important in this field. Theese are the first point of contact when the newly born arrive home, and the first instance where accident prevention can be taught.

Health service is organized in health centres, family centres – to widen the focus also to the sorrounding environment and as a visitor service. The public health visitor service meets the users in various areas; at home, in the health care centre, at school and in the local area. Considerable attention is paid to the work of preventing accidents and injuries. There is also focus on multicultural work, and on co-operation with voluntary organisations.

When children reach school age, special programs are developed to teach the young about accidents, first aid, drugs and alcohol. This to prevent injuries and to postpone the debute of alcohol and drugs.

A special team is established to meet young peaple in their environment to identify and offer co-operation and assistance to young people in risky environments, regarding drugs and alcohol.

Children 15 – 24:
The municipal health care for youth is under development and consists in the health service in upper secondary schools and the health centre for youth. The issues most interesting for youth interesting are drugs, prevention, sexual diseases and psychosocial problems.

Adults 25 – 64:
The local council adjusted the municipality’s preparedness plan in November 2001, and goals for this work were established. Focus is on previous regulations, Safe Communities taken from the long term part of the municipality plan, as well as the letter of expectations received from the Government.

The new guidelines from the government have a stronger focus than previously on the responsibility of preventing crises to peace by taking preparedness considerations in the planning of the community, as well as a plan to ensure that the municipality meets such crises in an effective and rational way. The main aim for the civil preparedness, which the municipalities are part of, is to ensure the population’s life and health during crises to the peace and in a war situation.

In 2002, a reflector tag campaign has been carried out aimed at all inhabitants of Larvik. Reflector tags have been available at various places in the municipality.

Elderly 65 + years:
The demand for health services is increasing, which results in a gap between offer and demand. A strategy to meet this gap is to help each individual to take care of his own health to a greater extent. There are strong indications as to preventive work in central state documents.

Preventive work is important to achieve the best possible life quality and to prevent illnesses, injuries and defects. A process identified the needs and programs was designed to cover following special areas: Need of information hereunder safety information for homes, a caretaker to do activities with hazardous effect for elderly people, social events, exercising and transport. In addition there are developed special programs that allows elderly people free sand for slippery surfaces at home and firewood for heating at home.

Photo: caretaker

Photo: safetycampaign

At the following environments

Home:
Special programs for elderly people to avoid accidet and injuries containing safety information for homes, a caretaker to do activities with hazardous effect for elderly people, social events, exercising and transport. In addition there are developed special programs that allows elderly people free sand for slippery surfaces at home and firewood for heating at home.

Traffic:
The municipality of Larvik has established a traffic safety plan, which is set up for the period from 2001 to 2004. The municipality traffic plan is set up in co-operation between the municipality, the police, the traffic authorities and the council of safer traffic. The plan is set up in different levels with a considerable amount of sub plans. Some of the most important are the programs for school roads including internet information, e-mail communication over road safety initiatives, school bus markings with extra lights, information programs for parents regarding trimming of motorbikes and mopeds, preparing parents and young people for the driving practice with cars and a special program for the graduates from high school, regarding safety for their "partycars".

A special programme was designed to secure the 6 years children when they start at school in the autumn. Also see schools and kindergartens.

Photo: 30 km

Occupational:
Employers in Norway has strict regulation regarding health, environment and safety.

Kindergartens:
The kindergartens have compiled programmes to handle accidents, grief and crises. In addition, a preparedness plan has been made in order to receive information and establish routines related to serious illnesses, accidents and deaths. The plan is an aid in order to react rationally and effectively in critical situations.

"Send the police out and bring in Marie" was the headline in Larvik’s local newspaper on 6 April 2002. Marie marks a conscious break with the tradition that it is men who usually communicate the road safety in public, such as the policeman who visits the kindergartens. Marie is a doll and a programme to communicate road safety to children in kindergartens, and all kindergartens in Larvik have been offered this new project. The aim is to increase children’s, parents and kindergarten employees’ awareness of road safety. The Marie concept emphasises adventure, activity, participation and music. In addition to this, a representative from "Trygg Trafikk" (= "Safe Traffic") has given those in charge professional update on road safety.

Photo: Marie

School:
The schools work methodically to create happiness, well being and security among the pupils in co-operation with the parents. A plan for well-being (against crowding) is compiled in each school and a research on satisfaction is carried out every year to determine status. Examples of measures taken are:

The system of older pupils responsible for the younger, a helping friend, places for recreation, and conflict solving by peers. Each school has compiled rules for pupil satisfaction and good behaviour. Other measures are rules for outdoor activities, e. g. when it comes to throwing snowballs. Also the schools have a common programme to prevent accidents that can arise during school hours or during class excursions.

The schools work together with the local areas to provide the best possible conditions for growing up.

In 2001 an internal control manual was compiled in the schools. This was based on the schools’ objectives for 2001. The manual was compiled in close co-operation with the health, environment and security service in the municipality. To ensure health, a good environment and safety for children, a regulation for environment-oriented health care has been integrated in the manual.
Also see traffic.

Sports and leisure:
Sports clubs are facing strict regulations on safety and their venues and accident prevention plans have been promoted with a view to further development. In addition the municipality has made a co-operation with Larvik håndball klubb, which is one of the top 10 European handball clubs, regarding shearing their knowledge with others regarding injury prevention and attitudes to alcohol and drugs.

In 1994 all public playgrounds were registered according to a new safety regulation The park unit has compiled checklists on safety with regard to the site, the ground under climbing racks etc., ladders, fixed / concrete fundaments, swings, slides, climbing racks, sandboxes and playhouses.

Other:
An examination and evaluation are presently in progress when it comes to Larvik municipality’s work in connection with distribution of facilities for the disabled. This work also involves a survey of voluntary organisations that distribute such facilities. A cross-sectoral work group is to compile a report with suggestions on strategies and actions before 1 of June 2002.

The Road Directorate established in 1999 is a national resource and competence centre for older car drivers at the Vestfold Road Office. The centre will co-operate with the department in order to adapt information, training and traffic systems to elderly people so that they can keep their mobility as car drivers as long as this can be justified with regard to safety.

Through the work with Safe Communities information has been given on this offer called Motorist + 65, and in addition courses are arranged at regular intervals by the "Popular University" of Larvik. 

Violence prevention:
Special programs to prevent violence against women living in abusive relationships.

Suicide prevention:
Special program to follow up patients after hospitalisations and spacial programs for those left behind after suicide.

Programs aiming at "High risk-groups": Yes

Surveillance of injuries: Traffic, schools and kindergartens, accidents and injuries among citizens of municipality of Larvik causing a hosptal visit year.
Details of study: Accidents and injuries among citizens of municipality of Larvik causing a hosptal visit year.
Time 2000.01.01 – 2001.12.31
Statistics based on diagnosis after ICD10, Vestfold hospitals.

Numbers per year: Males 1,165; females 892 Total 2,057
Population base: 40,681
Started year: 2,000

Publications: NOVA / "Safe Community project, Bente Foss, "Ung i Larvik". Main subject, everyday school, spare time activities, drug abuse and problematic behaviour.

Staff: Integrated in the Larvik Municipality’s administration and the action groups
Number: 7
Professions: Part time
Permanent: Yes
Organization: Board administrated by the "Safe Community" project manager.
Specific intersectoral leadership group: Yes
General public health/health promotion group: Yes

International commitments

Study visits:
Many, including Drammen, about the subject "Safety in the local community" directed by the "Injury preventive forum", April 1998.
Participation in Safe Community conferences:
Harstad, Viborg Amt’s conference on cost-effectiveness within injury preventative work.
Hosting "Travelling Seminars":
The municipality of Larvik invites their friendship municipalities’ representatives in participation with the municipalities Ski, Fredrikstad and Spydeberg to a travel seminar on the 3 June 2002. The seminar is part of the municipalities’ application for membership in the World Health Organisation’s program "Safe Communities".

Other:
Experience shared with friendship municipalities in Sweden and Finland

The municipality of Larvik has since 1998 been represented in the forum for injury prevention. The conference "Everybody is needed" In Drammen autumn 1999. Participation in compiling a plan for national action towards safety for the elderly.

The manager of one of two workgroups in the government’s plan of action "Violence against women" where Vestfold is a pilot county Pilot with the safety-program "Marie", (which is developed by the States Road Department). From 2002 associated with the Norwegian network of "upbringing municipalities". The municipality of Larvik has applied for participation in the "Quality of Life" project at the Berthelman’s Association in Berlin.