Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health is focusing on distracted driving during National Trauma Awareness Month. Collaborating with the Society of Trauma Nurses, Emergency Medical Services for Children and the American Trauma Society, Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health is urging our community to focus on this problem in May 2012 and throughout the year. This year’s theme is "Decide to Drive, Arrive Alive."
Distracted driving is a significant trend in our area. Motor vehicle collisions resulting in major injuries accounted for 54% of all traumas in the last 10 months at Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health’s facilities in Lafayette. Many of those are attributed to distracted driving.
The principal actions that cause distracted driving and lead to vehicle crashes include:
- Electronic device use (cell phone, GPS, radio);
- The driver’s state of mind;
- Conversations with passengers;
- Eating or snacking;
- Reading or taking notes; and
- Applying makeup.
Regina Nuseibeh, R.N., Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health’s trauma coordinator, will be reaching out to the public and local high schools to educate them on what distracted driving is and encourage them to make a pledge to drive safely.
Each year, a national committee convenes to develop materials for National Trauma Awareness Month. Committee members research current trends in traumatic injury, and based on this the committee selects one cause of major injuries to focus on during National Trauma Awareness Month.
Informational booths will be set at Franciscan St. Elizabeth Health – Lafayette East campus, 1701 S. Creasy Lane in Lafayette each Friday over the noon hour. For more information, please contact Regina Nuseibeh at (765) 502-4412.