ER/Trauma/Bayflite > Trauma

In the U.S., someone dies from a traumatic injury every three minutes. Anyone – regardless of age, race, creed or economic status – can become a trauma patient at any time. What many do not realize is that trauma is, in many cases, preventable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Seat belts have saved an estimated 255,000 lives between 1975 and 2008.
• School-based programs to prevent violence have cut violent behavior among high school students by 29%.
• Sobriety checkpoints have been shown to cut alcohol-related crashes and deaths by about 20%.
• Tai chi and other exercise programs for older adults have been shown to reduce falls by as much as half among participants.

Take time this month to think about you and your family’s everyday activities and what you can do to prevent trauma from affecting your life. For more information, visit the National Safety Council’s website at http://www.nsc.org/nsc_events/Nat_Safe_Month/Pages/home.aspx?VanUrl=nsm .