News

It was a perfect way to start a Marvelous Monday. Dozens of students, parents, teachers and other members of the Orange County community took part in Walk to School day, a program geared to re-enforcing pedestrian safety, community building and exercise.

It was the first such event held at Hillsborough Elementary School. Principal Christine Kreider deemed it a success.

“There were lots of smiling faces,” she said. “We even had neighbors in the community come out of their homes to cheer on our students.”

Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver was joined by Orange County School Board members Will Atherton and Brenda Stephens, who walked alongside students. School Superintendent Dr. Monique Felder also participated, as did members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

The walk worked in concert with an event organized by Safe Kids Orange County at the school the previous Thursday. The organization partnered with Safe Kids North Carolina to provide copies of the book “Clifford Walks to School” to 241 students at Hillsborough Elementary. The students, who were assembled in the school’s gym, were also visited by Clifford, the Big Red Dog. Clifford visited other classrooms throughout the school.

Another special guest, N.C. Congressman David Price, visited the school and read the book to the students.

Lt. Brian “Bubba” Whitehurst from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, offered spirited and animated explanations of safety rules.

Safe Kids Orange County is a grant-funded program led by UNC Health Care Trauma Program, which provides staff, operation support and other resources to achieve its goal of keeping kids safe.

Occupational therapy practitioners empower aging baby-boomers with community mobility options

BETHESDA, MD (Nov. 19, 2019) — As baby boomers enter the over 65 age bracket at an alarming rate (10,000 each day), the concern for older drivers’ safety and independence is greater now than at any time in our history. Adults 65 and older make up more than 16% of all drivers, nationwide. And the numbers are growing as baby-boomers age. By 2040, it is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans will be 70 or older.

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) along with several national transportation, safety, and aging organizations are raising awareness of ways to keep older drivers safe on the road through AOTA’s Older Driver Safety Awareness Week (Dec. 2-6, 2019).

Held annually on the first week of December, the campaign raises awareness of the growing population of older adults and their transportation needs. Each day covers a theme critical to empowering older drivers and their families:

• Monday, Dec. 2: Anticipating Changes That Can Affect Driving. As part of the natural aging process, most people experience physical, cognitive, and sensory changes that can affect driving. Being in tune with these changes is the first step to remaining safe.
• Tuesday, Dec. 3: Family Conversations. The holidays are a great time to bring up a loved one’s driving safety. Waiting until an accident happens can leave the driver feeling as if he or she needs to defend themselves. Planning ahead is the most successful way to maintain independence.
• Wednesday, Dec. 4: Screening and Evaluations With an Occupational Therapist. Driving fitness evaluations range from self-assessments, which can be useful educational tools to help identify potential challenges, to a comprehensive driving evaluation from an occupational therapy driving rehabilitation specialist.
• Thursday, Dec. 5: Interventions That Can Empower Drivers and Families. Often times, suggestions made during a driver evaluation go beyond minor mirror or seat adjustments and may involve the use of adaptive equipment or vehicle modification.
• Friday, Dec. 6: Staying Engaged in the Community With or Without a Car. If a driver feels that they need to limit or stop driving, they may fear a loss of independence or life of isolation. There are many resources available to help older drivers maintain their quality of life.

“Just as we plan for our financial futures, we need to plan for our transportation futures as we age,” says Elin Schold Davis, OTR/L, CDRS, FAOTA, project coordinator of AOTA’s Older Driver Safety Initiative. “Respecting the physical, cognitive, and sensory changes that come with age may require adjustments in driving patterns, vehicle equipment, or a skills refresher, but do not have to mean giving up the keys and living in isolation without access to transportation. Older Driver Safety Awareness Week is dedicated to building awareness of the growing array of options available to seniors to support their goal of driving safety and maintaining an active lifestyle. Occupational therapists certified in driver rehabilitation offer drivers an individualized evaluation to explore the range of solutions to stay on the road safely and confidently.”

To learn more, visit www.aota.org/driver-safety or follow #ODSAW19. Each day, representatives from national safety and aging organizations will share answers throughout the day to a daily focus question pertaining to the day’s theme, following #ODSAW19.

Founded in 1917, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) represents the professional interests and concerns of more than 213,000 occupational therapists, assistants, and students nationwide. The Association educates the public and advances the profession of occupational therapy by providing resources, setting professional and educational standards, and serving as an advocate to improve health care. Based in Bethesda, Md., AOTA’s major programs and activities are directed toward promoting the professional development of its members and assuring consumer access to quality services so patients can maximize their individual potential. www.aota.org.

UNC Trauma and UNC Chatham are hosting a CarFit program on October 11th from 10AM – 2 PM. Read this Chatham News & Record article to learn from our injury prevention coordinator how CarFit can benefit you or a senior you love by keeping you safe and independent on the road. Email Anna Stormzand at anna.stormzand@unchealth.unc.edu to register

Programs Include Stop the Bleed Training, Child Safety and EMS Education

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2019) – After a rigorous review process, the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma has selected 20 pediatric trauma grant projects from communities across the U.S. to receive funding. The recipients are from 13 different states and the projects cover a range of pediatric trauma prevention and safety issues, including Stop the Bleed training; child passenger, recreation and sports safety; and emergency professional education.

“The Childress Institute is committed to funding education and safety programs that can improve care for children in communities across America,” said the Childress Institute’s Executive Director Bob Gfeller. “Child safety, EMS education, injury prevention, and pediatric trauma care programs are woefully underfunded, yet traumatic injury is the number one killer of kids in the U.S. Results from all of these well-deserving projects could have a collective impact that can save injured children.”

Below is a complete list of the grant recipients:

• Constance Deering from Los Angeles, for “Brain Health 4Kids”
• Jacob Hall from Madera, Calif., for “Stop the Bleed Training”
• Darcie Bentz from Denver, Colo., for “Pediatric Helmet Safety Campaign”
• Jamie Dugan from Vincennes, Ind., for “Stop the Bleed School Education in 11 Indiana & Illinois Counties”
• Laci Farmer from Hardinsburg, Ky., for “Child Passenger Safety Program”
• Stephanie Booza from Clinton Township, Mich., for “Stop the Bleed School Training Program for Macomb Co. Michigan”
• Michelle Goreth from Jackson, Miss., for “Heads Up Mississippi”
• Valerie Moody from Missoula, Mont., for “Improving Safety in Youth Sports in Montana”
• Anna Stormzand from Chapel Hill, N.C., for “Helmets for Orange County Kids” and “Special Needs Car Seats for UNC Children’s Hospital”
• Kara Clarke from Concord, N.C., for “Handtevy Pediatric Resuscitation System”
• Grant Yarbrough from Wilkesboro, N.C., for “Preventing Heat Illness at Wilkes Central High School”
• Brandy Cardwell from Winston-Salem, N.C., “Eye In The Sky: Injury Spotter”
• Salvatore Puglisi, Jr. from Florida, N.Y., for “Teens Stop the Bleed”
• Laura Strickland from Conway, S.C., for “Motor Vehicle Safety Movement”
• Gyl Switzer from Austin, Texas, for “Safe Storage Saves Lives”
• Weston Davis from El Campo, Texas, for “Pediatric ALS Training Mannequin”
• Gloria Salazar from El Paso, Texas, for “El Paso Borderland Public Health ATV Campaign”
• Michael Stanford from Leavenworth, Wash., for “Stop The Bleed Kits at Summer Youth Camps and Schools”
• Deborah Armbruster from De Pere, Wis., for “Bleeding Control Kits”

In May 2019, the Childress Institute announced the availability of funds for community projects focused on improving safety and treatment for pediatric trauma patients. The Institute recently awarded Stop the Bleed grants to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health and Science University, and Vidant Medical Center. In 2018, community grants were awarded to T.J. Bishop (Handtevy EMS education in Chelan, Washington), Kari Cheezum (Stop the Bleed in Salisbury, Maryland), Keito Ortiz (Stop the Bleed in Jamaica, New York), Splash Medics (water safety in Menifee, California), Team Safe Sports (sports safety in Dallas, Texas), UT Southwestern (head injury education for EMS in Dallas, Texas), and Wake Forest Baptist Health’s Brenner Children’s Hospital (child passenger and bike helmet safety for Winston-Salem, North Carolina).

For more information please find the Childress Institute at https://saveinjuredkids.org , or on social media at https://www.facebook.com/SaveInjuredKids or Twitter @injuredkids.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Childress Institute: Kara Thompson – kathomps@wakehealth.edu , (336) 491-9766

About the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma

Life threatening injury is the No. 1 killer of kids in America. More than 10,000 children lose their lives every year from serious injuries. In addition, almost 300,000 children are hospitalized and over 8 million children are treated in the emergency department for serious injuries each year, many of whom struggle with long-term recoveries and disabilities. It can happen anywhere, at any time, to any child. The Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma discovers and shares the best ways to prevent and treat severe injuries in children. The Institute funds research, education and advocacy to help improve the care and treatment injured kids receive across the U.S. The Childress Institute was founded at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in 2008 through a generous gift from Richard and Judy Childress. Visit www.SaveInjuredKids.org to learn more.

Kara Thompson
Marketing Manager
kathomps@wakehealth.edu
(336) 713-1625 Work

(336) 491-9766 Cell

Pilot Program Yields Positive Results

America Walks is deeply troubled by the sharp increase in pedestrian fatalities over the last decade. Last year, 6,227 pedestrians were killed.

This was up from almost 6,000 in 2017 and the largest number since 1990. Seniors, people of color and low-income individuals are at greatest risk – over twice as likely to be killed. In 2018, we partnered with the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (UNC HSRC) to launch the Safer Systems program. The program focused on creating the local and regional capacities to assess, plan, and prioritize effective and context-sensitive pedestrian safety countermeasures, and to increase a community’s sense of urgency for changing built environment decisions. Twelve communities participated in the year-long program, which consisted of a series of online learning modules and guided work on a pedestrian safety plan.

America Walks is excited about the work being done in these communities to improve safety for all vulnerable road users. Below is a sampling of their accomplishments to celebrate their success and inspire action in other communities across the US.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

The Town of Chapel Hill’s participation in the Safer Systems program was part of a larger effort to eliminate pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries. In the fall of 2018, the Chapel Hill team, led by the Transportation Division, convened a stakeholder group to provide policy, technical, and design recommendations that contribute to pedestrian safety

“The Road to Zero program and its safe systems approach gave us new ideas and new tools for assessing and treating pedestrian safety concerns in town.”

and mobility with the ultimate goal of having zero pedestrian traffic fatalities on Chapel Hill roads. The group includes representatives from a variety of agencies and organizations that work with different populations and provide diverse perspectives, such as the Orange County Department of Health, SafeKids, and the Orange County Coalition to End Homelessness.

Franklin St. in Chapel Hill, NC

They conducted public outreach at various events and used that data, as well as crash data, to inform their safety improvement and program and policy recommendations. All of their work culminated in the development of a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The plan will guide their work in improving pedestrian safety in the Town of Chapel Hill. The stakeholder group will continue to meet occasionally to share ideas and resources over the coming years.

When asked about their overall experience with the program, Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager at the Town of Chapel Hill and the Safer Systems team lead stated, “The Road to Zero program and its safe systems approach gave us new ideas and new tools for assessing and treating pedestrian safety concerns in town. The interagency task force and pedestrian safety action plan that we created as part of the program will be integral to continuing efforts to make Chapel Hill a place with zero pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries.”

Flint, MI

The Flint team was headed by Crim Fitness Foundation. America Walks has had the pleasure of working with representatives from Crim Fitness Foundation before as Theresa Roach was a 2018 Walking College Fellow. They kicked off their work by convening a Traffic Taming Task Force, comprised of residents from several neighborhoods, to gather input concerning local traffic and safety of vulnerable road users. The Flint team also coordinated Walk to School Day events at four schools in October 2018 and used those opportunities to discuss walkability with parents and school staff.

“Our data collections show that a large number of people, about 25% are NOT conforming to the 25mph limit making all residents and visitors unsafe.”

After consulting with Department of Public Works, the Flint team purchased a speed radar sign to install on different residential streets on a rotating basis. The sign tracks traffic volume and speed and can be used for traffic calming, as well. They are collecting preand post-implementation data. Kate Cole, a resident

A Street in Flint, MI by Michigan Municipal League

of one of the neighborhoods where the sign has been placed describes how “at 2 p.m. in the afternoon you may find children, and adults walking or biking, feeling safe because they are in their own neighborhood. But our data collections show that a large number of people, about 25% are NOT conforming to the 25 mph limit making all residents and visitors unsafe.”

The sign will be held at each location for a total of twelve weeks before being moved to a different neighborhood. As of June 2019, they have had eight neighborhoods request to be added to the sign’s rotation schedule.

Through their Road to Zero work, the Traffic Taming Task Force was able to connect with new organizations and agencies. For example, the City of Flint Planning Department began inviting the group to their public forums concerning neighborhood planning projects.

Richmond, VA

Representatives from the Richmond City Health Department participated in the Safer Systems program. Sarah Shaughnessy, Community Health Planner, led their efforts and recently wrote a blog post for America Walks describing their work, both with the program and the City’s Vision Zero Initiative. Shaughnessy also adds that “participating the Road to Zero program encouraged me to think about how to develop the health department’s role in bike and pedestrian planning and gave me the opportunity to connect with and learn from others across the country who are doing the same.”

“Participating in the Road to Zero program…gave me the opportunity to connect with and learn from others across the country…”

Last fall the Richmond team attended a Walk to School Day event at one of Richmond’s Safe Routes to School program schools and worked with Fit4Kids, their partner organization, to pass out prizes to students who arrived by active transportation. The Richmond team’s safety plan involved building a database of crash data and transportation-related health and equity metrics for in-house data and policy analysis. They worked with an intern at a local university (VCU) to compile the database, which currently exists in excel and in ArcMap and is available for future analysis. They also created a set of maps to show bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicular crashes in relation to a vulnerability index developed by the state department of health called the Health Opportunity Index. These maps will soon be published on their organization’s Culture of Health Website.

A Walking School Bus in Richmond, VA

Throughout the program, the Richmond team strengthened not only strengthened existing relationships but also built new partnerships with several organizations and agencies, including the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the City of Richmond Department of Public Works, which also employs the City’s Vision Zero Coordinator.

America Walks would like to thank the National Safety Council and Road to Zero Coalition for providing funding for the Safer Systems program.

Community profiles were co-written by Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager at the Town of Chapel Hill, Cade Surface, Program Coordinator at Crim Fitness Foundation, Kate Cole, Flint resident, and Sarah Shaughnessy, Community Health Planner at Richmond City Health Department. Many thanks to them for their time and effort.

For more information visit americawalks.org or contact us at info@americawalks.org