May is National Trauma Awareness Month, and motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading reasons patients are transported to and treated at the Lee Health Trauma Center. The reality is that driving is one of the most dangerous things we do. As we approach Memorial Day and the summer months, it’s also important to recognize that this is the deadliest time of year for teen drivers.
Syndi Bultman, RN, MSM, CEN, injury prevention resource coordinator at the Lee Health Trauma Center, explains that drivers ages 16 to 19 are nearly three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash per mile driven.
“Thirty percent of all fatalities involving teen drivers occur during the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day,” she says. “Seventy-five percent of serious teen driver crashes are due to critical errors, such as failing to scan for hazards, speeding, and distracted driving. Other contributing factors include having teen passengers in the vehicle and not wearing a seatbelt. Parents should talk with their teen drivers and remember to model safe driving behavior.”
Syndi and the Trama Center team emphasize that crashes are both predictable and preventable.
Here are key reminders from our injury prevention team—for teen drivers and adults, alike:
The Lee Health Trauma Center encourages everyone in our community to:
The trauma center’s injury prevention team also offers safe driving education programs for young drivers. To learn more, visit leehealth.org/our-services/trauma/injury-prevention.
This National Trauma Awareness Month, and as we enter the “100 deadliest days,” remember that every distraction avoided, every seatbelt fastened, and every responsible decision can mean the difference between life and loss.
Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA is the president & CEO of Lee Health, Southwest Florida’s major destination for health care offering acute care, emergency care, rehabilitation and diagnostic services, health and wellness education, and community outreach and advocacy programs. Visit LeeHealth.org to learn more.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Lee Health: Crashes are preventable – A reminder this awareness month
Reporting by Larry Antonucci, M.D., MBA, President & CEO of Lee Health / Naples Daily News
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