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    Don’t be a distracted driver:
    Observe Trauma Month with Memorial

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    For more information, contact:
    Catherine Larsen, (209) 525-3106.

    MODESTO – May 13, 2010 – Memorial’s Trauma Services staff is observing Trauma Month in May by encouraging everyone to avoid distracted driving, a leading cause of motor vehicle accidents. The public is invited to attend the Trauma Prevention Open House on June 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Memorial Medical Center’s Orchard Room, when the trauma staff will provide information about how to avoid distracted driving.

    “Distracted driving was involved in nearly 6,000 motor vehicle fatalities and more than a million injuries in 2008,” says Sharon Perry, R.N., trauma program manager. An estimated 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near crashes involve some kind of distraction.

    “We hope that people will stop by our Trauma Prevention Open House to learn about the consequences of distracted driving, and then to share this information with their friends and families and maybe save some lives,” Perry adds.

    Distracted driving is defined as “any non-driving activity a person engages in that has the potential to distract him or her from the primary task of driving and increase the risk of crashing.”

    Distractions can occur when you take your eyes off the road, take your hands off the steering wheel or take your mind off driving. Common distractions include using a cell phone, operating a radio or CD player, putting on makeup and eating. Some distracted drivers have even been known to change clothes, steer with a foot, paint their nails or shave while driving!

    “To reduce your risk of getting into an accident, be safe and avoid driving distractions at all times,” urges Tony Tam, M.D., medical director of Memorial’s trauma services. “Focus on the road, pay attention to traffic and expect the unexpected.”

    The American Trauma Society offers these tips for minimizing distractions while driving:

    • Use your cell phone for emergency situations only, and pull over when you need to make or answer a call. Drivers who use hand-held cell phones are four times more likely to be injured in car crashes, but even hands-free devices take your attention away from driving.

    • Do your multi-tasking outside of the car. Don’t read a book or check your e-mail in the car.

    • Teens should limit the number of passengers as well as the level of activity inside the car. Brain activity used while driving can decrease by 40 percent when a driver listens to conversation or music.

    • Avoid eating while driving. Food spills are a major cause of distraction.
    If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Drowsiness increases the risk of a crash or near-crash by nearly four times.

    • If you are drowsy, pull off the road. Drowsiness increases the risk of a crash or near-crash by nearly four times.

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    Memorial Medical Center is part of Sutter Health, a family of not-for-profit hospitals, physician organizations and other medical services that share resources and expertise to advance health care quality and access. Serving more than 100 communities in Northern California, Sutter Health is a regional leader in cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, obstetrics, and newborn intensive care, and is a pioneer in advanced patient safety technology.