Nebraska Injury Prevention and Control News
    Issue #67                                                    February 2017
Injury Prevention in the News
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration New Website

The National Highway Traffic Administration has launched its new website. The re-designed site features improve functionality to make finding information easier.

Visit the new NHTSA site here
Upcoming Events
  Save a Life Tour

The Safe a Life Tour will be coming to Nebraska in February 2017. The Tour is a high-impact Safe Driving Awareness Program. Beginning with a thought provoking video, the program jumps into a live presentation full of personal stories including the loss of loved ones. The event then brings mass crowd participation to the driver’s seat of  highly advanced driving simulators. The program will be done at Blair, Plattsmouth, Nebraska City, Norris and Beatrice high schools. For more information, contact the NDOR Highway Safety Office at 402-471-2515.

Safe Kids Nebraska
Boy George Shines for Safe Kids on New Celebrity Apprentice

In November, Safe Kids Worldwide announced that Boy George will be on the The New Celebrity Apprentice. They were honored and excited that Boy George selected Safe Kids as his charity on the program. 

What a start to The New Celebrity Apprentice! Our hero and ambassador, Boy George, kicked off the season as the first winning project manager, earning $50,000 for Safe Kids Worldwide. Here is the full story.
Winter is Here: A Cold-Weather Safety Checklist

Here are some top tips for winter safety from Safe Kids. These safety tips will help you and your loves ones stay safe and enjoy the winter weather.
 
Save The Date
 
Nebraska Child Passenger Safety Technician Update/Training

Wednesday, April 19, 2017
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Nebraska Innovation Campus
2021 Transformation Dr. Lincoln, NE 68508
Motor Vehicle Safety
     Transform Your Trunk

Transform your trunk to be better prepared for road safety, especially in the winter. Follow a couple easy steps: Remove the junk, and pack a road safety kit, to be more prepared.

Watch the video from State Farm here  
Drowsy Driving Facts

The AAA Foundation For Safety conducted a study to look at the relationship between recent sleep and the risk of crash involvement. Data was taken from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey. Below are some key findings of the study.

There is a significantly elevated crash risk for:

  • Drivers who slept less than 7 hours in the past 24 hours
  • Drivers ho slept for 1 or more hours less than they usually sleep

Compared to drivers who had slept for at least 7 hours in the past 24 hours, drivers who reported they had slept:

  • 6-7 hours had 1.3 times the crash rate
  • 5-6 hours had 1.9 times the crash rate
  • 4-5 hours had 4.3 times the crash rate
  • Less than 4 hours had 11.5 times the crash rate

Drivers who reported that they usually sleep for 4-5 hours per day had 5.4 times the crash rate of drivers who usually sleep for 7 hours or more daily.

Compared to drivers who reported that they had slept at least their usual amount in the past 24 hours, drivers who reported they had slept:

  • 1-2 hours less than usual had 1.3 times the crash rate
  • 2-3 hours less than usual had 3.0 times the crash rate
  • 3-4 hours less than usual had 2.1 times the crash rate
  • 4 or more hours less than usual had 10.2 times the crash rate

View the full fact sheet here.


Public Health Strategies for Motor Vehicle Safety
The  Public Health Strategies for Motor Vehicle Safety guides summarize evidence-based findings and recommendations addressing programs, services, and policies from research studies and national traffic safety organizations.
 
These guides are designed to act as a resource for those interested in traffic safety. Implementing these evidence-based strategies will help achieve the goal of Toward Zero Deaths in Nebraska. The topics currently covered are child passenger safety, teen driver safety, seat belt use, motorcycle safety and distracted driving.

Older Adult Falls

Fall Safety Tips for Winter

Here are a few more tips to help your stay on your feet this winter.  

1. Focus on Footwear: Rubber Soles, especially those with plenty of tread, provide better traction on snow and ice than either leather or plastic soles, making them the best selection.

2. Beware of Black Ice: It’s just as slippery as regular ice, but difficult to see, making it a top winter safety concern. Stay on clear pathways or ones that have been treated with sand or salt.

3. Make Winter Safety a Priority: Avoid rushing and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination safely. Avoid short-cuts through snow or over icy areas 

4. Walk Like a Penguin: When walking on ground that is slippery with ice or snow – take short, shuffling steps, curl your toes under and walk flatfooted  

You can easily share these tips by printing this document.

The Nebraska Injury Prevention Program is working with several local partners to implement Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance and Stepping On.  Both of these are evidence based programs that work to prevent falls among older adults.  Both programs are being implemented in the areas served by South Heartland District Health Department, Public Health Solutions District Health Department, Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department, Four Corners Health Department, and Aging Partners.  Stepping On is also being implemented by the Scotts Bluff County Health Department. These agencies work with community partners to host classes in their communities to reach community-dwelling older adults.  The Injury Prevention Program works with the sites to maintain fidelity to the evidence-based programs and provides technical assistance and training.
Concussion
Traveling to Colorado to Ski, Take a Helmet with You

A new study by doctors at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine is adding to a growing body of research that shows helmets are important in lessening the severity of head injuries that kids may suffer while skiing or snowboarding — but only up to a point. The study is scheduled to be published in February in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. More details can be read in the Denver Post's recent news article.

Prescription Drug Overdose
Continued Progress

Comprehensive opioid prevention efforts continue to progress with the support of many stakeholders across the state.  The enhanced Nebraska Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) went live January 1, 2017.  If you would like to learn more about the Nebraska PDMP, please visit our website at www.dhhs.ne.gov/pdmp.  

Trauma

Help Prevent Motor Vehicle Crashes this Holiday Season

Statistical data provided from the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety shows in the year 2015 there were 32,818 total motor vehicle crashes with 10,497 of those crashes resulting in injuries.  The months of November and December are peak travel months, as many families will excited to travel to spend time with friends and family.  Motorists need to prepare for travel, to protect themselves and their passenger’s from potential tragedy, as a motor vehicle accidents claimed 245 lives in Nebraska in 2015 (NOHS, 2016).  Before you take off for holiday travel consider the following:  

  • Is your vehicle tuned up and ready for travel – prepare for winter conditions in case you are stranded.
  • Are you physically ready to make the trip – if you are tired, stop take a break, or delay travel to prevent fatigue related accidents.
  • Restrain yourself and your passenger’s properly.
  • Give yourself plenty of time to get from one destination to the other, avoid speeding, and aggressive driving.
  • Pay attention to changes in the weather, and review travel plans anticipating changes in road conditions.
  • Do not drive if you having been drinking – choose a designated driver who will remain alcohol free.
  • Do not text or talk on the phone while driving – since driving needs your full attention, designate a passenger to provide communications for you while you travel.
  • Be flexible with your travel plans, and do not set un-realistic expectations of yourself.

  The Nebraska Statewide Trauma System wants to prevent you from becoming a statistic of motor vehicle crashes.  Be smart and do your part to be a responsible driver this holiday season.  For more information about the Nebraska Statewide Trauma System or for questions please contact: Crystal Dailey RN, BSN, Trauma Nurse Specialist, DHHS EMS/Trauma Program at crystal.dailey@nebraska.gov or 402-722-4300.  

 Safety Observances

February 5, 2017




Quick Links
Contact Information

Peg Ogea-Ginsburg, MA                  
Injury Prevention Program Coordinator   


Jason Kerkman, MPH 
Safe Kids Nebraska Coordinator 


Amy Reynoldson
Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Coordinator


Jeanne Bietz, MA                                             Motor Vehicle Policy Grant Project Coordinator  jeanne.bietz@nebraska.gov


Ashley Newmyer, MPH, CPH
Epidemiology Surveillance Coordinator

Felicia Quintana-Zinn, MS, MBA
Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Epidemiologist
Felicia.Quintana-Zinn@nebraska.gov



Injury Prevention and Control E-News is a monthly newsletter distributed to partners of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Injury Prevention and Control Program.