#HelmetSelfie Project

Even though football is now officially over until the fall, there are recreational and sports activities all year long that can be safer by wearing a helmet. During the winter months, it’s important to wear helmets while skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling.



Did you know head and face injuries can be reduced by nearly 50 percent if you wear a helmet? Read the rest of the blog at our new site - https://saveinjuredkids.org/blog/helmetselfie-project/

Fire Safety Saves Kids' Lives by Pamela Elliott

Life-saving fire sprinklers should be more prevalent

While on my flight to speak at a fire safety event, an article caught my attention. It was titled “U.S Requires New Cars to Have Backup Cameras.” My first thought was there must be a huge problem if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is requiring new cars to have backup cameras. Then I was somewhat surprised to read that there are nearly 210 backover deaths each year. About a third of those deaths are children, and many of these accidents are caused by parents. The article stated that rear-facing cameras would save between 59 and 69 deaths a year.

By contrast, the United States Fire Administration reports that fire kills 3,400 and injures 17,500 people each year. I was burned as a young child in a house fire. As such, I am acutely aware of the number of people who needlessly die or are injured in fires.

I sat on that flight with many mixed feelings. As a fire safety advocate, I’m excited any time a safety measure that will save even just one life is enacted. However, as a burn survivor, I felt frustrated and angry that similar safety measures haven’t been implemented in homes to prevent fires. What makes me even angrier is that the technology to prevent these deaths and injuries exists—they're called fire sprinklers. It’s taken quite a few decades to install them in new homes at a very slow rate.

NHTSA is to be highly commended and applauded for their public safety efforts. Since its inception, seatbelts have saved 280,000 lives and air bags have saved 28,000 lives. Now another safety device will be added to cars to prevent even more deaths.

Because of my past, I investigated how many children die in fires. I looked at the FEMA report “Fire Risk to Children 2010.” In 2010, 357 children died in fires. That’s about five times more children than those killed in backover deaths annually. The children most likely to die or be injured are newborns through age four -- those who can’t escape by themselves. If those statistics don’t grab at your heartstrings, I don’t know what would.

Anthony Foxx, United States Secretary of Transportation, said in the article, “Safety is our highest priority, and we are committed to protecting the most vulnerable victims of backover accidents—our children and seniors. As a father, I can only imagine how heart-wrenching these types of accidents can be for families, but we hope that today’s rule will serve as a significant step toward reducing these tragic accidents.”

Sometimes when children die in fires, no body is found. I can’t imagine having to bury a child, but I certainly can’t comprehend not having a body to bury. 

According to the FEMA report, 87% of fire-related casualties to children occurred in homes. That’s 87% of 357 children — 310 children who die in their own homes. We have the capability of saving 310 children a year. The technology exists — it’s a scientific fact that fire sprinklers save lives, reduce property loss and decrease injuries.

There’s no way to comprehend the devastating effects of burn trauma unless it happens to you or a family member. Why do we wait for a horrific event that warrants litigation before we’re compelled to change? Unless prevention becomes the highest priority of the fire service and its advocates, we can expect to continue to see these horrific statistics; this makes me very sad and irate at the same time.

I can only hope that comparing these statistics will somehow motivate fellow safety advocates and the fire service to take action. We need to stand united in the message that fire sprinklers save the lives of both citizens and firefighters.

- Pamela Elliott, RN and fire survivor

ATV Safety Facts by Bob Gfeller

A major goal of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma is addressing the issue of mild traumatic brain injury in youth when they participate in recreation and sports. By youth, I mean these are boys and girls roughly 15 years old and younger. By recreation and sports, I mean all the sports the kids play such as boys playing football, hockey, soccer, basketball, lacrosse and girls playing soccer, basketball, cheerleading, and volleyball, as well as other sports. 

From a recreational standpoint, we're specifically talking about outdoor recreation on ATVs, four wheelers, motocross, and of course bicycles. I'd like to focus in on the ATV issue for this blog because the statistics are really surprising. We have studied a lot of literature and a lot of studies that have been done in this area. In fact, we have funded a couple of papers in this area, one of which should come out at the end of 2014.

There are about 10 million ATVs in use throughout America today. Injuries on ATVs are up approximately 70 percent over the past ten years and injuries in children have now reached 40,000 emergency room visits per year. Why is that? When you look at injuries on ATVs, children represent only 20 percent of the riders, but 50 percent of the injuries. These injuries include both a singular injury, which means a head or limb injury, but over 20 percent of them are multiple injuries, meaning limb and head or internal organ and head, so they're pretty severe injuries when we look at them.

For example, a study published by Dr. Allison McBride shows that in North Carolina 27 percent of ATV injuries are children but they are only 14 percent of the riders. There are three major factors:

1. Kids are driving machines that are just too big and powerful for them to control

• There is legislation in all states defining legal ages for children to drive an ATV, with specific guidelines for size and power based on age
• Most states say that children under 16 cannot drive an ATV unless they have parental supervision

My two cents: These rules are pretty hard to enforce when you're in rural areas around the country

2. Drivers and riders are too young

• Average age of a driver is 12
• Average age of a rider is 9

My two cents: These are little kids driving and riding on powerful machines

3. “Reckless” activities on ATVs

• 90 percent of riders do not wear a helmet
• Driving too fast
• Riding an ATV on paved roads
• Alcohol consumption

My two cents: If you have ever ridden or driven an ATV, you know that when it hits a paved road the tires bounce and you can easily flip

Why does all this matter to the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma? Part of our equity is that the Childress family is very involved and passionate about the outdoors. We know that families love the outdoors – hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and other activities – and to get to many remote areas in our beautiful country ATVs are used. As the economy improves, more ATVs are being sold. We want to work in the area of ATV injury prevention and treatment.

As we look toward 2015, we will work on two recreation initiatives:

• Improve research and knowledge on what causes people to ignore safety regulations for riding ATVs
• Get involved in educational and outreach programs to make ATVs safer, which may include encouraging the use of helmets among both adults and children

Please remember this as you head into the fall recreational activities:  if you wear a helmet, injuries to the face and head could be reduced by 50 percent. A simple helmet can save you a world of grief and pain if you or your child are injured riding an ATV. Our goal is to save the lives of injured children. Your actions can save a life!

Stay inspired!!
Bob Gfeller, Executive Director of the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

Child Passenger Safety Week: Research, Register, and Reach Out to Help Others

As the father of a young son, I know the worries that accompany the joys of parenthood.

As a parent you will always worry. But, there will come a day when you can worry less: maybe once you see a son or daughter graduate college, find career success, or get married. And until then, it’s up to us to keep our children safe.

That’s why we’re reaching out directly to parents and to organizations committed to protecting children about car seat safety as part of Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs from September 14-20. We want everyone to know that protecting children means researching the correct car seat, making sure it’s registered so you’re notified of any safety recalls, and -- if you’re as committed to this issue as we are at NHTSA -- to reaching out and spreading the word about car seat safety on social media this week.

Research.

One of the first purchases for any new parent is a car seat. Your child cannot travel safely unless he or she is restrained in a car seat that is appropriate for your child and that has been been properly installed. But how are parents to know what seat is best? With the help of NHTSA’s new Car Seat Finder every parent or caregiver can quickly and easily identify the type of car seat that will best protect your child. Additionally, our Parents Central Page at SaferCar.gov offers lots of other helpful tips for protecting our kids.

Register.

But our responsibilities don’t end with the selection and purchase of the right car seat or booster seat. In order to be informed of any possible safety recalls your car seat must be registered with the manufacturer. Yet far too many fail to register their seats.

As soon as you bring a new car seat home, immediately mail the postage-paid registration car that comes with it. If you can’t find the card, don’t worry; this web page allows you to register your seat online.

Our “SaferCar” app for iOS -- and the new Android version we recently launched -- also offer access to recall information, NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, and other helpful information. “Snail mail” also remains a central way to notify Americans of safety recalls, which is why NHTSA recently mandated that all manufacturers use a new, distinctive label on required mailings so that notices aren’t lost among the junk mail.

Reach Out.

If you or your organization wants to help spread the word throughout Child Passenger Safety Week and beyond, we hope you’ll participate in our Twitter chat on September 17. You can follow the chat or participate by using the hashtag #therightseat. You can also enhance your engagement with your followers by using marketing materials we’ve made available to the public at trafficsafetymarketing.gov and sharing brief videos on the topic from our Vine page.

It’s About Keeping Kids Safe in Car Seats

If you want to be sure your car seat or booster seat is safe, or help others protect kids, then remember following steps.

When you hear about a car seat or booster seat recall, be sure to:

·         Find out which models and manufacture dates are involved.

·         Call the manufacturer or visit their Web site for more information and to verify if your car seat or booster seat has been recalled; or

·         Call NHTSA’s toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Before you call, have the following information:

·         Manufacturer’s name

·         Model Name

·         Model Number

·         Date of Manufacture

If your car seat is recalled get it fixed right away.

If you don’t have another car seat or booster seat to use, keep using the recalled seat while you wait for the repair kit—if the recall notice says you can. Using a recalled car seat or booster seat is almost always safer than letting a child ride in just a seat belt. Many problems are minor but some are serious. All problems should be fixed as soon as possible.

The Bottom Line is Our Kids’ Safety.

There will come a day when parents can worry less, but until then, it’s up to us to keep our children safe. 

- By David J.Friedman, Acting Administrator, NHTSA

Recognizing Concussions

USA Today recently brought up the topic, “how do families with concussion concerns pick sports?” Although there is much talk in the news about youth football injuries, many other sports pose injury concerns for parents and athletes. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, soccer players have the same percentage of injuries that are concussions as football players. Soccer player Tori Bellucci told her concussion story earlier this year as part of the White House’s summit on concussions and youth sports. The summit shined a spotlight on the nation’s interest in finding new ways to identify, treat and prevent serious head injuries in youth athletes.

After a successful high school soccer career at Huntington High School, Bellucci was offered a full scholarship to play soccer at Towson, but the physical and emotional effects of multiple concussions made her realize the risks of continuing to competitively play the sport she loves. Tori elected not to play soccer in college after she suffered her fifth concussion.

“It changes the way you think and feel,” Bellucci, 18, said. “I was just like really sad, really kind of desperate type of feeling. I couldn’t do anything because of my head, so I would just be in my room with the shades drawn. I was like, ‘I don’t want to live like this anymore.’”

Unfortunately, the effects of initially unrecognized and repeated concussions meant Bellucci’s dream of playing soccer in college ended, but she continues to work hard to recover and remains active in sports by teaching young children how to play soccer. At the summit, President Obama referenced Bellucci’s experience as an example to other young athletes and parents about the commitment ahead of us to change perceptions and improve outcomes.

Safe Kids reports that every three minutes in the U.S., a child is seen in the emergency department for a concussion, yet 54 percent of athletes admit they have played injured. The CDC has great resources for parents and athletes for preventing, recognizing and treating sports injuries.

Signs of a concussion that coaches, athletic trainers and parents may notice:

·         Appears dazed or stunned

·         Is confused about assignment or position

·         Forgets an instruction

·         Is unsure of game, score, or opponent

·         Moves clumsily

·         Answers questions slowly

·         Loses consciousness (even briefly)

·         Shows mood, behavior, or personality changes

·         Can’t recall events prior to hit or fall

·         Can’t recall events after hit or fall

Symptoms that athletes may report:

·         Headache or “pressure” in head

·         Nausea or vomiting

·         Balance problems or dizziness

·         Double or blurry vision

·         Sensitivity to light

·         Sensitivity to noise

·         Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy

·         Concentration or memory problems

·         Confusion

·         Does not “feel right” or is “feeling down”

For an easy reference, visit the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma's easy concussion overview and click the graphic to download and print. For more information and stories from athletes, parents, coaches and athletic trainers, please visit:

• CDC's concussion reference
• CDC's Heads Up program for athletes
  
• CDC's concussion story from a basketball player
  
• A parent's story about concussion in youth athletes
  
• Matthew Gfeller Foundation
  
• Safe Kids' youth sports culture infographic
  
• Safe Kids' sports safety infographic
  
• Safe Kids' Ten Tips for Parents
• USA Today's story on concussions and youth athletes