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NEW ORLEANS – Drivers and passengers in Louisiana are wearing their seat belts in record numbers, and statewide statistics are showing a dramatic difference in survival rates between those who buckle up and those who don’t.
Highway safety and medical professionals made the case during National Injury Prevention Day Tuesday for more people to wear their seat belts and make sure their children are properly restrained.
The news conference was held at University Medical Center New Orleans and featured Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Robert P. Hodges, Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Executive Director Lisa Freeman, UMC Trauma Medical Director Alison A. Smith, Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force Director Bridget Gardner, and Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association President and CEO Coulter McMahen.
LHSC Chairman James C. “Jay” O’Quinn II presented Freeman with a proclamation from Gov. Jeff Landry, declaring Tuesday as Louisiana Injury Prevention Day.
Col. Hodges called it "a day to reflect on how we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and the communities we serve." He said the best way to do that is to always buckle up.
“Wearing your seat belt properly keeps you secure in your seat and can prevent you from being ejected during a collision,” Col. Hodges said.
Only 11.6% of drivers in Louisiana do not wear seat belts, but those drivers account for 56% of all driver fatalities in the state, according to LHSC data. The numbers show that drivers are nearly 10 times more likely to survive a crash simply by wearing their seat belts, Freeman said.
“The small minority of drivers not wearing their seat belts actually made up the majority of driver fatalities in Louisiana last year,” Freeman said.
Dr. Smith’s first day on the job as the medical director of the trauma unit was the day of the Bourbon Street attack, which sent dozens of people to the hospital.
“No one could have predicted what happened on Bourbon Street on January 1st, but because we were prepared, we were able to save lives,” Dr. Smith said. “Every time you get in your car, you can’t predict what may happen. But, you prepare yourself by wearing your seat belt, every seat, every time.”
Keeping children safe in a vehicle requires a car seat that is properly installed and is the right type for the child’s age and size.
“Children’s bodies are not equipped to withstand the forces of an automobile crash without the support of a child safety seat,” Gardner said. “Our mission is to ensure that all parents and caregivers in Louisiana have access to this vital information to keep their children safe.”
One of the ways to get that information to the public is through a new partnership with the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Association. The Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force is providing child seat safety information cards to the LADA, which will distribute the cards to its dealers and their customers.
“We’re proud to work alongside Louisiana State Police, the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, and University Medical Center New Orleans to share vital child safety seat information with our dealers and their customers,” McMahen said. “Protecting families is central to our mission as a dealer community, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help parents keep their children safe.”
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