ATS
PA DIVISION
2007, 2008
Annual Report
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Our
new relationship with FBLA:
Pennsylvania Future Business Leaders of America
(pdf)
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Cumberland and Franklin County
Safe Driving Competition for Youth
Winners Announced
Mechanicsburg, PA
- In a
continuing effort to promote safe driving among young drivers, South
Central PA Highway Safety (SCPAHS) conducted the annual Safe Driving
Competition for Youth for students in Cumberland and Franklin
Counties. The event was hosted by the Capital Area Intermediate Unit on
Thursday, April 24, 2008. Eleven teams consisting of three students from
each of the following high schools participated in the event: Big Spring;
Boiling Springs; Camp Hill; Carlisle; Cedar Cliff; Chambersburg;
Cumberland Valley; East Pennsboro; Fannett-Metal; James Buchanan; and
Mechanicsburg. The competition was a cooperative event among SCPAHS, the
American Trauma Society (PA Division), the Cumberland County Coroner′s
office, the PA Motor Truck Association (PMTA), Roadway Express, Inc.,
PennDOT and both state and local police officers.
The competition consisted of a driving skills course
designed by members of the PMTA who conducts similar safe driving events
for the trucking industry, a slide perception test and a written exam.
The top three overall winners were Garrison Plessinger of
James Buchanan High School who received a $1,000 savings bond for his
first place win, Edward Benish of Carlisle Area High School who received a
$500 savings bond for his second place win, and Daniel Crofford of Big
Spring High School who received a $250 savings bond for his third place
win. Overall winners are determined by totaling each student's individual
scores in the driving skills course, the slide perception test, and the
written exam to determine the highest achieved averages.
Savings bonds in the amount of $100 were awarded to the
following first place winners for the three individual elements of the
competition. First place winner of the driving skills course was Jeffery
Nornhold of East Pennsboro High School. First place winner of the slide
perception test was David Heath of Carlisle High School. Garrison
Plessinger of James Buchanan High School was the first place winner in the
written examination.
Saving bonds in the amount of $50 were also awarded to the
students with the overall highest score from each of the participating
school that did not place in one of the above categories. Students from
the following high schools were the overall school winners: Ryan Bailey
(Boiling Springs), Matt Robertson (Camp Hill), Casey Johnson (Cedar
Cliff), Ryan Royce (Chambersburg), Christian Johnson (Cumberland Valley),
Ryan Dovey and Hunger Nye (Fannett-Metal) and Lauren Phillipy
(Mechanicsburg).
First and second place overall winners will move on to
compete in the State Safe Driving Competition to be held at the Radisson
Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill on Friday, May 9, 2006. The third place
overall winner will serve as an alternate in the event that the first and
second place overall winners are unable to attend. The state competition
will offer $8,000 in prizes, including a $5,000 scholarship for the
first-place winner.
SCPAHS would like to thank the following businesses and
organizations for their support and donations, helping to make the 2008
student driving competition a great success: AAA of Central PA; American
Trauma Society, PA Division; Blue Moon Cruisers; Capital BlueCross;
Dauphin County Chiefs of Police Association; Edward Doyle Driving School;
J. P. Russell & Son, Inc.; Mayor Jack Ritter of Mechanicsburg; Messiah
College; Phoenix Contact, Inc.; Samento Industries; South Central EMS,
Inc.; Valley Grange #1360; Ventura Foods, L.L.C.; and Waste Management. A
thank-you also to the Volunteers from the following Police Departments:
Hampden Twp., Mechanicsburg, North Middleton Twp., NAVICP, PA Capitol
Police, PA State Police - Carlisle & Newville, and Upper Allen Twp. Thank
you to the following for donating their time, services and products: Al's
Pizza & Subs, Enola; Giant Food Stores; Karns Quality Foods, Capital Area
Intermediate Unit, Cumberland Co. Coroner's Office, Herra Bros., Inc., PA
DUI Association, PennDOT Engineering District 8, Pennsylvania Motor Truck
Association, Roadway Trucking and Saturn of Carlisle Pike.
Overall Winners (left to right: Daniel Crofford, Edward
Benish and Garrison Plessinger) show off their plaques at the Cumberland
and Franklin Counties Safe Driving Competition for Youth 2008 held on
April 24th.
Mike Norris, Cumberland County Coroner presents Garrison
Plessinger of James Buchanan High School with First Place Overall Winner
Award along with a $1,000 Savings Bond at the Annual Cumberland & Franklin
County Safety Driving Competition for Youth 2008.
Photo Caption: Edward Benish of Carlisle Area High School
received 2nd Place Overall Winner along with $500 Savings Bond
from Mike Norris, Cumberland County Coroner at the Annual Cumberland &
Franklin County Safe Driving Competition for Youth 2008.
Photo Caption: Daniel Crofford of Big Spring High School
receives Third Place Overall Winner Award along with $250 Savings Bond
from Mike Norris, Cumberland County Coroner at the Annual Cumberland &
Franklin County Safe Driving Competition for Youth 2008.
Mike Norris, Cumberland County Coroner (standing) instructs
a participant at the Annual Cumberland & Franklin Counties Safe Driving
Competition for Youth 2008 as he gets ready to begin the safe driving
course.
Top Score Winners each received $50 Savings Bond
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HELP ATSPA and HELP YOURSELF TO SAVINGS!
Mechanicsburg
- It's time to
save money at the Bon-Ton again! Care to Share Community Day will be held
on Saturday, March 1, 2008 from 7 AM until the stores close. Once again,
the Pennsylvania Division of the American Trauma Society is selling coupon
booklets for $5. Use your booklet to take advantage of:
■
$10 Coupon - Save $10 on a single regular or sale price item of $10 or
more throughout the store. (Some exclusions apply)
■
Eight
Coupons that give you up to 20% off on single items throughout the store
(Again, there are some exclusions)
■
Community Day Bonus Buys - Save on Leisure Lakeview luggage and Clarks'
Shoes
■
Save
on Brands that Rarely Go on Sale - like Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, Nautica Jeans, Jones New York Sport, Waterford Crystal, Swarovski, Tommy
Hilfiger, Fossil and many, many more
Remember, all
proceeds from the sale of the coupon booklets go directly to the American
Trauma Society to fund trauma prevention programs. So do something nice
for us and for yourself by buying one of these booklets. And don't forget
your friends! What a nice little surprise for them.
All these savings by purchasing a $5 "Care to
Share" coupon booklet available through ATSPA! All proceeds benefit the
American Trauma Society.
To purchase or for more information, stop in at ATSPA office located at 2
Flowers Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050 or call 717-766-1616 or
1-800-282-2358.
ATSPA is a non-profit
trauma prevention education organization dedicated to reducing the
suffering, disability and death due to trauma. For more information,
contact (717) 766-1616 or 1 (800) 822-2358.
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Golf Tournament 2007 RECAP
The Annual Paul A. Cox
Memorial Golf Tournament was held on
Friday, September 28, 2007.
This year, eighty golfers
took to the greens at the Cumberland Golf Club for trauma prevention. It
was a beautiful fall day in South Central PA, complete with wind (just in
case the golfers needed it to answer the ever-popular question "which way
did it go?")
After enjoying 18 holes
of golf, both golfers and dinner guests placed their bids on silent and
live auction items donated by local and national businesses and
celebrities.
Guests were treated to a
ball drop by the Life Lion helicopter that dropped 352 balls onto a
special green while hovering overhead. ATSPA and Ms. Jill Smeigh split
the 50/50 proceeds. Later, cash prizes were awarded, with Dr. Shaun
Bryant, Dr. David Dell, Dr. Jeffrey Harris and Nathan Staggs from Carlisle
Regional Health System taking first prize.
The event ended with a
grilled steak and chicken dinner and door prizes for everyone.
Dale Murphy, Executive
Director for the Greater Harrisburg Oil Heat Association presented Dr.
John Templeton, Jr. with a $600 donation in memory of the late Neal Curry,
former HOHA director and president. Neal was an avid supporter of ATSPA's
mission to reduce suffering, disability and death due to trauma. These
funds were raised through the HOHA Golf Tournament.
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Greater Harrisburg Oil
Heat Association Donates Funds to
PA Division of the American Trauma Society
Mechanicsburg -
Dale Murphy,
Executive Director of Greater Harrisburg Oil Heat Association
(HOHA), presented the
American Trauma Society, Pennsylvania Division (ATSPA) with a $600.00
donation in memory of the late Neal Curry, former HOHA
director and president. Curry, who owned and operated Curry's Fuel Oil
and Curry's Heating and Cooling of Hershey, PA, was an avid supporter of ATSPA's mission to reduce suffering, disability and death due to trauma.
ATSPA Board President John Templeton, Jr., MD, FACS, accepted
the donation on behalf of the
organization on September 28 at ATSPA's annual fundraising
event, the Paul A. Cox, M.D. Memorial Golf Tournament.
The donation is a result of proceeds realized from the annual
HOHA/Neal Curry Memorial Golf Tournament held in Curry's honor. HOHA has
made a donation to ATSPA, a nonprofit organization, every year since the
annual HOHA/Neal Curry Memorial Golf Tournament began in 1999. To date,
a total of $6,050.00 has been donated by HOHA to ATSPA's ongoing efforts
to provide trauma prevention education programs, events and materials
throughout Pennsylvania.
"We are deeply grateful for the dedication and support HOHA
has given us over the past nine years," said ATSPA Executive Vice
President Julia Cox.
For more information about ATSPA and its programs, please
contact (717) 766-1616 or 1 (800)
822-2358.
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SOUTH
CENTRAL
PA
HIGHWAY
SAFETY
INVITES
AREA
SCHOOLS AND
ORGANIZATIONS
TO PARTICIPATE IN "LIGHTS ON FOR LIFE"
Mechanicsburg -
Don Tappan, South
Central PA Highway Safety assistant coordinator announces that "Lights on
for Life" is being hosted by South Central PA Highway Safety, a grant
program of the PA Division of the American Trauma Society,
the Cumberland County Coroner's Office and PennDOT.
If you are traveling on the Carlisle Pike on December 7, you
will be reminded that December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving
Awareness Month. Students from area high schools will be participating.
Approximately 30 emergency vehicles from area police departments, fire
departments, EMS
and ambulance leagues, and volunteer and community organizations will be
on hand to greet the public. Their messages will be displayed on posters
and banners, heard in cheers and chants, and seen in a vast array of
lights at "Lights on for Life," a DUI Awareness event.
The kick-off ceremony will begin at
10:30 AM in the gymnasium
of Cumberland Valley High School. The speaker will be "Hollywood"
Olsen, a ninth-grader from Mechanicsburg Area who is a motivational
speaker for DUI and child victims. He has been the victim of several
DUI incidents. A stationary parade of lights along the Carlisle Pike will
begin at 11:15 AM, ending at 12:15 PM
"The Christmas holiday period is an especially dangerous time
on the highway. We invite you to join us for one hour to remind
people to stay safe on the highways during the holiday season when
incidents of driving under the influence always increase," said Robert
Mott, South Central PA Highway Safety coordinator.
The severity of a motor
vehicle crash increases when the driver is impaired, and impairment begins
with the first drink. Impaired drivers are more likely to drive
recklessly and are less likely to use seat belts. These factors increase
their risk for serious injury in a crash. In 2006, there were 1,525 motor
vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania resulting in fatalities. Thirty-two
percent or 487 of these fatalities were DUI-related.
The "Lights on for Life"
is a visual display of lights in remembrance of those who have lost their
lives or suffered extreme injuries because someone was driving under the
influence. It is an opportunity for students, clubs, businesses,
organizations, agencies and any individual in Dauphin,
Cumberland,
Franklin and Perry County to say, "If you drink booze - You Lose."
For more information or to join the "Lights on for Life"
event, please contact South Central PA Highway Safety at (717) 766-1616 or
1-800-822-2358.
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ATSPA Annual Conference coming to Hershey Lodge in March 2008
Mechanicsburg - The
American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA) will hold its annual
conference on March 19 and 20, 2008 at the Hershey Lodge. Our theme this
year will be "The Faces of Trauma". ATSPA is presently recruiting
speakers for this conference. Institutional Members are encouraged to
submit individual nominees for the special awards ceremony on March 19th
recognizing individuals who have performed outstanding service in the
field of trauma in 2007.
Information on
scholarship opportunities for full-time students enrolled in an
undergraduate nursing program in Pennsylvania will be mailed soon.
Residents currently
enrolled in an accredited PA hospital in an emergency medicine residency
program will be eligible to apply for the H. Arnold Muller Resident
Scholarship. One scholarship is awarded annually. The recipient of this
scholarship, which includes registration, meals, travel and lodging, will
be recognized at the awards banquet.
For more information,
call ATSPA 1-800-822-2358 or 717-766-1616.
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ATSPA Attends SADD Conferences
This November, the Pennsylvania Division of the American
Trauma Society attended both the Western and Eastern Pennsylvania
conferences of Students Against Destructive Decisions. The Western
conference was held on November 13 at Seven Springs Ski Resort and
Conference Center; the Eastern conference was held on November 15 at the
Lancaster Host.
The American Trauma Society exhibit was very popular with
students and advisors alike. Students checked out our newest program,
Faces of Meth Intense Makeover. They were challenged to match before
and after pictures of the same people before and after addiction to
methamphetamine. All the students were stunned at how destructive the drug
was to the users.
Also on display was the Binge! game. Advisors and
drug and alcohol professionals were given the game, as well as a copy of
the Pieces of the Puzzle program from which it came. They also were
given decks of the Faces of Meth cards.
Other popular items were our care cards. Many of the
students took cards to give their friends and acquaintances to reinforce
safety messages.
We at the American Trauma Society feel that these
conferences represented a particularly effective outreach effort.
Counting both conferences, games were distributed to professionals from 35
Pennsylvania Counties. These professionals will in turn use the games and
other materials to reach countless students throughout the Commonwealth.
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Children Learn Safety Tips at Columbia County Farm Safety Day Camp
Mechanicsburg Over
20 children, ages seven to 15, recently gathered to participate in the
Columbia County Farm Safety Day Camp, the first one to be held in over 10
years. Held at the Bloomsburg Fair Grounds, the camp was sponsored by the
Columbia County Farm Bureau in cooperation with the Columbia County
Extension Office, the Columbia County Conservation District, Bloomsburg
4-H club and the American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA).
Farm safety day camps are designed to help reduce farm-related injuries
and deaths and to provide opportunities for children to participate in
hands-on demonstrations and exhibits that focus on potential hazards and
safe practices related to living, working and visiting on a farm. Campers
rotated throughout the day to various learning stations where they were
introduced to safety topics such as poisonous look-a-likes, farm animal
safety, fire safety, lightning safety, bicycle safety, ATV safety and
power take-off (PTO) and lawnmower safety. The day also included a visit
by the Geisinger Medical Center Life Flight rescue helicopter.
We
were pleased to be able to offer this camp to the children in our
community, said Heath Hines, PA Farm Bureau
Region 8 Organization Director. It is program that has been much
needed and one we hope to see grow and continue on an annual basis.
If you are interested in planning a
farm safety day camp or would like to receive planning information, please
contact ATSPA Project and Grant Coordinator Ruth Hockley at (717)
766-1616, 1(800) 822-2358, or
atspa@atspa.org.
ATSPA is a non-profit trauma prevention education organization dedicated
to reducing suffering, disability and death due to trauma.
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ATSPA Offers Tips to Help Beat the Heat during Heat Wave
Mechanicsburg
The days of extreme heat and high humidity are forcing
the people of Central Pennsylvania to push their bodies to the limit. The
American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA) would like to offer the
following tips to keep you safe as the thermostat in your body struggles
to maintain its normal body temperature. This is especially true for
older adults and young children as well as those who are ill or
overweight. Also, for those living in urban areas the risk is greater.
Unlike rural areas where there is a period of cooling down at night, urban
areas experience higher temperatures as heat stored in areas of asphalt
and concrete slowly releases.
A heat
related illness occurs when the body can no longer transfer enough heat to
keep the body temperature cool. Heat related
conditions include sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke
or sun stroke. It is important to be able to recognize the different
symptoms associated with these disorders and how to treat them. The
reddened, painful skin of sunburn victims is the most common ailment.
Victims may experience swelling, blisters, fever and headaches that may be
eased by taking a shower using soap. Oils and lotions, which may be
blocking pores, can prevent the body from cooling down. Apply dry,
sterile dressings to blisters and seek medical attention if needed.
Heavy sweating along with heat
cramps, or muscular pains and spasms brought on by overexertion, are early
warning signs that your body is having difficulty with the heat. Victims
should immediately be moved to a cooler place where affected muscles can
be gently stretched and massaged and victims can be given a half glass of
water in sips every 15 minutes. Discontinue water if nausea occurs.
Heat exhaustion, which occurs when body fluids are lost through heavy
sweating from work or exercise, causes an increase in blood flow to the
skin while decreasing the blood flow to vital organs. Victims suffer from
weak pulse, dizziness and fainting, nausea and vomiting, exhaustion,
headaches and usually a rise in body temperature. Assist victims to lie
down in a cool place, apply cool, wet compresses, remove and loosen excess
clothing, and give a half glass of water in sips every 15 minutes.
Discontinue if nausea occurs. Heat exhaustion victims may need medical
attention. Left untreated, the body temperature will continue to rise and
a more severe condition called heat stroke or sun stroke may occur.
A heat or sun stroke occurs when the body temperature rises rapidly, up to
105 degrees or higher. The internal body temperature control system stops
working and the victim is no longer able to perspire. Symptoms include
hot, red, dry skin; rapid, weak pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; lack of
perspiration; and possible unconsciousness. Move to cool place and call
911 or get to the hospital immediately. Any delay could lead to brain
damage or death.
The following prevention measures can be taken to protect you from heat
related conditions:
1.) Install
window air conditioners and check existing air conditioning ducts for
proper
insulation. If air
conditioning is unavailable, stay on the lowest and coolest floor of
your house.
2.) Close
floor heat registers. Use fans for relief, but remember that fans do not
cool the
air. In extreme heat, fans only blow hot air
around.
3.) Use
temporary reflectors such as cardboard covered with foil to reflect the
heat back
outside or cover windows with drapes or
shades to block the sun.
4) Install outdoor awnings to reduce the heat entering your
house.
5.) Eat light, well-balanced, regular meals and drink plenty
of water even if you do not
feel thirsty. Note: People who
experience problems with fluid retention or those on
fluid restricted diets should consult a doctor
before increasing fluids.
6.) Limit
alcohol intake, which can further dehydrate the body.
7.)
Never leave children or pets
alone in closed vehicles.
8.) Wear
loose, light colored, lightweight clothing to reflect the heat of the sun.
9.)
Use sunscreen with at least a 15
SPF rating and protect your face and head with a hat.
10.) Avoid
strenuous work and exercise. If active, take frequent breaks.
11.)
If you do not have air
conditioning at home, find a public place where you can get out
of the heat for a few hours.
12.)
Check on family, friends and
neighbors who are alone much of the time.
13.) Know
the symptoms of heat related disorders and how to treat them.
ATSPA is a nonprofit
trauma prevention education organization dedicated to reducing suffering,
disability and death due to trauma. For more information
contact us at 1 800-822-2358, 717-766-1616 or
atspa@atspa.org.
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American Trauma Society Provides
Advanced Burn Life Support
Training to
Medical Personnel
Mechanicsburg - The American Trauma Society, PA
Division (ATSPA) recently held an Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS)
Provider Course for 26 participants at the PA Emergency Nurses Association
(PA ENA) conference held at the Wyndham Harrisburg-Hershey hotel. The
course, made possible through a federal Public Health Emergency
Preparedness grant provided by the Health Resources and Services
Administration, prepares hospital staff and rural medical personnel to
handle severe burns and other mass injuries in the critical first 24 hour
post-injury period. The training presents burn treatment protocol within
the scope of practice for MDs, RNs, paramedics and EMTs, with the goal of
lightening the burden on the specialized burn centers in PA. This could
prove vital in the event of a terrorist attack or other catastrophic
fallout.
With only five burn centers in Pennsylvania, it is vital
that rural hospitals be equipped to help handle patients in a disaster
situation, said ATSPA Project and Grant
Coordinator Ruth Hockley. The instructors, who are experts in their
field, bring great value to the course.
Sharing
their expertise as instructors for this class were: Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) chief, Robert Reeder, Michael Lynch, EMS administrative
director, and Dana Durso, clinical educator, all from the Crozer-Chester
Medical Center near Philadelphia; Kathleen A. Hollowed, RN, outreach
education coordinator, Burns and Trauma Section of General Surgery at the
Washington Hospital Center; Tracy Stankan, nurse practitioner, from
Conemaugh Memorial Hospital; and Sandy Smith, RN, outreach education
coordinator at the West Penn Burn Center.
The instructors led the participants through the eight-hour
course, which consisted of morning lectures, case studies and group
discussions. In the afternoon, students practiced patient assessment,
treatment, and stabilization and transfer criteria. Testing consisted of
a written exam and several practical demonstration stations where students
were required to demonstrate their new skills on volunteers realistically
made-up to simulate burn victims from different case scenarios. Students
who successfully completed all the course elements were awarded a
certificate of completion.
This was an excellent course,
said Mary DalPezzo, PHRN, of Milton, PA. I would recommend it highly
to pre-hospital, emergency room, and transport team caregivers.
Since May 2004, ATSPA has organized a total of 30 classes
for over 649 participants in different regions of the state. Additional
classes are scheduled for the following dates and locations: Sept. 16 at
the Monroe County Public Safety Training Center in Stroudsburg, PA; Sept.
30 at Miners Hospital in Hastings, PA; Oct. 7 at the Robert Packer
Hospital in Sayre, PA; Oct. 14 at Gettysburg Hospital in Gettysburg, PA;
Oct. 21 at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA; Oct. 28 at Pottsville
Hospital in Pottsville, PA; and Nov. 4 at Community Medical Center in
Scranton, PA.
ATSPA is a non-profit trauma prevention education
organization dedicated to reducing the suffering, disability and death due
to trauma. The ABLS Provider Courses are a cooperative effort between
ATSPA, the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, the American Burn
Association and the PA Department of Health. For more information about
the ABLS courses or to schedule a class, please contact Ruth Hockley at
(717) 766-1616, 1 (800) 822-2358,
atspa@atspa.org.
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Press Release
Protection against Gun Violence Topic of National ASK Day
Mechanicsburg June 21 is
National ASK (Asking Saves Kids) Day and the American Trauma Society; PA
Division (ATSPA) would like to help parents learn how to protect their
children from injuries and deaths associated with guns. Because over 40%
of homes with children have a gun, ASK day focuses on ways parents can
ensure their child will be safe while playing in the homes of friends,
relatives, neighbors, caregivers and others.
In the summer, children are eager to join their friends for
playtime, picnics and sleepovers. For parents, that means asking other
parents, Are there guns in or around the areas
where my child will be playing?
Some parents simply may not think to ask. For others, it
is a difficult and awkward topic to address. ATSPA would like to
offer the following tips to make asking easier: 1) Include the question in
a list of other concerns such as animals who might bite or foods that
might trigger allergies in your child; 2) Relate the question to something
you have seen or read about a child getting hurt by a gun or an article
stating the number of children injured by guns; 3) Encourage community and
school organizations to introduce the ASK concept to parents as a public
service; 4) Maintain a normal voice that does not sound accusing or
confrontational. Assure them you are only concerned for the safety
of your child; 5) Request our ASK card and use it as a guide; and 6) Talk to your
child about the dangers associated with guns, but never assume that
talking to them is enough. Children have a natural curiosity that is hard to stifle.
Once the question has been asked, determine if your child
will be safe. If the family does not keep guns in or around their home,
you will have gained peace of mind. If the family does have guns, you
need to ask an additional question, Are all guns unloaded and locked in
a secure safe with the ammunition locked separately? Guns that are
hidden in closets, under beds, or other accessible areas are not
safe. If you believe your child may be at any risk, extend an invitation
for the friend to come to your house instead.
Every year thousands of children are killed or injured in
incidents involving guns. ATSPA offers a free card, Smart Parents ASK,
upon request. For copies, contact (717) 766-1616, 1 (800) 822-2358,
atspa@atspa.org, or download the card from the ATSPA website at
www.atspa.org (Click on Resources, then Brochures/Hand Outs. Scroll
down to Smart Parents ASK card.) In addition, ATSPA offers a
Kind Conflict program that teaches youth how to settle conflicts
without resorting to violence. The program offers an activity to pinpoint
objects that can be harmful to them. For a more detailed description of
this program, click on Programs, then Kind Conflict. ATSPA
is a non-profit trauma prevention education organization dedicated to
reducing suffering, disability and death due to trauma.
_______________________________________________________________________
YMCA Campers Learn Safety
Tips at Neighborhood Safety
Day Camp,
2006
Mechanicsburg - The
American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA) recently held a Neighborhood
Safety Day Camp in cooperation with the West Shore YMCA summer camp at
Green Ridge Elementary School in Mechanicsburg, PA. Over 160 children,
ages 5 to 12, participated in the following safety sessions: Railroad
Right-of-Way Safety by Operation Lifesaver; Basic First Aid Training by
the American Red Cross of the Susquehanna Valley; Lightning Safety by
ATSPA; Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Prevention by Cumberland and Perry Drug &
Alcohol Commission; Violence and Bullying Prevention by Domestic Violence
Services of
Cumberland
& Perry Counties; Passenger Safety by South Central PA Highway Safety (SCPAHS);
Animal Safety by the Cumberland County Animal Response Team; and Nutrition
by Cumberland and Perry Tapestry of Health.
The camp is
a fun way to teach kids how to take care of themselves through interactive
presentations,
said Suzanne Volpe, ATSPA Program Development
Specialist.
Between presentations, campers were treated to
healthy snacks donated by Turkey Hill, Herr and Santanna Banana. Goody
bags filled with safety materials that reinforced the lessons learned
throughout the day were given to each camper to take home and share with
friends and family.
ATSPA is a nonprofit trauma prevention
education organization dedicated to reducing the suffering, disability and
death due to trauma. For more information on the Neighborhood Safety Day
Camp program, please contact Suzanne Volpe at 1 (800) 822-2358, (717)
766-1616 or
atspa@atspa.org. Also go elsewhere in this website and select
Programs for information on Neighborhood Safety Day Camps as well as
other safety programs that are available.
_______________________________________________________________________
Fall Prevention among Older Adults Targeted
during Home Safety Month
Mechanicsburg
- June is Home
Safety Month and an excellent opportunity to educate families about
unintentional injuries that occur in the home. The leading causes of
preventable home injuries are falls, poisonings and fires and burns,
resulting in nearly 21 million medical visits each year. Injuries from a
fall can limit the ability to be active and independent. For
people ages 65 and older, approximately one-half to two-thirds of all
falls occur in or around the home.
The American Trauma Society, PA Division, would like to
help reduce the number of occurrences and injuries caused by falls in
older adults by offering some important safety tips.
Older adults experience changes in their vision, hearing,
muscle strength, reflexes and coordination. Health disorders affecting
balance and neurological and musculoskeletal disabilities, including
decreased bone mass, as well as some medications can contribute to a
higher rate of falls in this age group. To help prevent dangerous
situations, older adults should have their vision and hearing checked
regularly and close attention should be paid to the list of side effects
linked to certain medications. Caution should be used when drinking
alcohol, when getting up too quickly, and when the body is exposed to
prolonged hot or cold temperatures.
Surprisingly, the majority of fall injuries occur while
standing on the same level and from a standing height. Obstacles that
cause falls and tripping include slippery surfaces, uneven floors, poor
lighting, loose rugs, unnecessary clutter, electrical cords, unstable
furniture, and objects lying on the floor. Step stools and ladders should
always be avoided.
To provide protection against falls, make sure all areas
around the home are well-lighted, especially porches, hallways and
stairways. Non-skid mats and rugs should be used in and around the home
as well as adhesive safety strips or decals in bathtub and shower areas.
The installation of hand or grab bars in bathrooms, along stairways, and
other hard to navigate areas can do a lot to ensure the safety of those
you care about. Furniture should be arranged so the room is easy to get
around, and couches and chairs should be at a height for getting into and
out of easily. Light switches and telephones should be located within
reach of the bed and favorite chair.
Other safety tips include the use of a cane or walker,
especially outside on wet or icy porches or sidewalks. Instead of sock,
slippers or shoes with heels, wear supportive, rubber-soled low-heeled
shoes that provide a better grip on surfaces. Many older adults enjoy an
exercise routine such as walking or swimming, which helps to keep joints and
muscles more flexible, improves physical strength, and reduces loss of
bone mass and muscle tone.
ATSPA offers an excellent program, Watch Your Step,
designed specifically for the prevention of injury in older adults. A
fact sheet, Falls and the Elderly, can also be accessed online at
www.atspa.org. For more information, please contact 1 (800) 822-2358,
(717) 766-1616 or
atspa@atspa.org.
_______________________________________________________________________
Bike Safety Day Gets Kids Ready for Summer Fun
Mechanicsburg
The American Trauma Society, PA Division (ATSPA),
the Lower Allen Township Police Department and the Kiwanis Club of
Cumberland County recently presented a Bicycle Safety Day for children 12
and under in the parking lot of the Capital City Mall in Camp Hill.
This was an ideal time for parents to
have helmets properly fitted on their children and bicycles tuned up for
safe riding, said Bonnie Swinehart, ATPSA
Director of Communications. It also gave the children an
opportunity to practice important bicycle safety lessons while riding in a safe
environment.
ATSPA adjusted each helmet to ensure a proper
fit as well as inspected it for cracks or other damage that could prevent
it from being effective in a crash situation. For those needing new
helmets, ATSPA welcomed them into the Bike Smart Club, which enables
children and adults to get a new, properly-fitted helmet at a cost of $9
for children and $11 for adults. Helmets are also available at the ATSPA
office at 2 Flowers Drive, Mechanicsburg. A bicycle inspection station,
courtesy of Holmes Cycling and Fitness of Camp Hill, was available for
quick tune-ups and minor repairs. Parents were notified of any major
repairs or safety concerns.
A bicycle safety course was designed for
children to learn to drive their bicycle on the right side of the road and
to obey all traffic signs and signals just like a car. They practiced
looking left, right, left and using the proper hand signals to let others
know their intentions. The course also showed them the importance of
being alert to the dangers of moving vehicles and how to maneuver around
potential hazards such as potholes, rocks, drains and grates.
If you would like information on holding a
bicycle derby or the Bike Smart Club and helmets, please contact
1-800-822-2358, 717-766-1616,
atspa@atspa.org or visit the Web at
www.atspa.org. ATSPA is a non-profit trauma prevention education
organization dedicated to reducing suffering, disability and death due to
trauma.
_______________________________________________________________________
Area High Schools
Receive Awards for
2005-2006 Seat Belt Challenge
Mechanicsburg,
PA. In an effort to promote driver safety
among teen drivers through seat belt use, South Central PA Highway Safety
sponsored the 2005-2006 High School Seat Belt Challenge. Twenty-five high
schools in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin and Perry counties were surveyed
three times during the school year to see if use rates were rising,
falling or sustaining.
According to PennDOT, overall seat belt use in
Pennsylvania for 2005 reached 83.3 percent, up from 81.8 percent in 2004.
For every percentage point increase in seat belt usage, PennDOT estimates
eight to 12 lives will be saved.
This is an important number considering motor
vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among teenagers, said South
Central PA Highway Safety Coordinator Robert Mott. Buckling up is the
most important thing any driver or passenger can do to increase their
level of safety while in a vehicle.
The award for the highest increase in seat
belt use during the 2005-2006 school year was presented to Lower Dauphin
High School with a 19.25 percent increase. Boiling Springs High School
was recognized for the school with the highest sustaining use rate with an
average use rate of 81.64 percent.
SCPAHS is now looking for schools to
participate in the 2006-2007 Seat Belt Challenge.
To take part in the 2006, 2007
challenge, contact Mott at 1 (800) 822-2358, (717) 766-1616 or
romott@atspa.org
for more details. Highway Safety also offers
speakers, programs and resources to assist educators and community
groups. Available programs and activities are suitable for use in
physical science and driver education classes, as well as school
assemblies.
South Central PA Highway Safety is a grant
program of the American Trauma Society, PA Division,
office of the Cumberland County
Coroner and PennDOT.
_______________________________________________________________________
Dauphin and Perry County
Safe Driving Competition for Youth Winners Announced
Mechanicsburg,
PA In a continuing effort to promote safe
driving among young drivers, South Central PA Highway Safety (SCPAHS)
conducted the annual Safe Driving Competition for Youth for
students in Dauphin and Perry Counties. The event was hosted by the
Middletown High School on Tuesday, May 2, 2006. Ten teams of three
students participated from Central Dauphin, Dauphin County Technical,
Greenwood, Halifax, Harrisburg, Lower Dauphin, Middletown, Millersburg,
Newport and West Perry high schools. The competition, which consists of a
driving skills course, a slide perception test and a written exam, was a
cooperative event among SCPAHS, the American Trauma Society, PA Division,
the office of the Cumberland County Coroner, the PA Motor Truck
Association (PMTA), Roadway Express, Inc., PennDOT and both state and
local police officers.
The top three overall winners were: Nathan
Burd of West Perry High School, who received a $1,000 savings bond for his
first place win; Justin Bullock of Central Dauphin High School, who
received a $500 savings bond for his second place win; and Joshua Cree of
Newport High School, who received a $250 savings bond for his third place
win. On Friday, May 12, Burd and Bullock will compete in the state safe
driving competition at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill for
$10,000 in prizes. Cree will serve as an alternate in the event either is
unable to attend.
Savings bonds in the amount of $100 were
awarded to the following first place winners for the three individual
elements of the competition: Nathan Burd. West Perry, driving skills
course; David Shertzer, Halifax, slide perception test; and Andrew
Sherman, Lower Dauphin, written exam.
Receiving
$50 saving bonds for attaining the highest score for their school were:
Jason Fannasy, Dauphin County Technical; Jordan McGowan, Greenwood;
Brandon Thames, Harrisburg; Kristen Lowery, Middletown; and Nicholas
Troutman, Millersburg.
Team competition awards were based on the
combined scores of all three team members with the first place trophy
going to West Perry High School. Lower Dauphin, Newport and Middletown
high schools placed second, third and fourth, respectively.
SCPAHS would like to thank
the following businesses and organizations for their support and
donations, helping to make the 2006 student driving competition a great
success: AAA of Central PA; Advantage Driving School; American Trauma
Society, PA Division; Blue Moon Cruisers; Bruners Service Center; CIESCO,
Inc; Commerce Bank; the office of the Cumberland County Coroner; Dauphin
County Chiefs of Police Association; Harrisburg Dairies; Herre Brothers;
Hershey Foods Corporation; Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company;
Karns Foods; Mayor Jack Ritter of Mechanicsburg; Nutrition, Inc. of
Middletown High School; Olympus Trophies; Parthemore Funeral Home;
Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association; Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation; Phoenix Contact, Inc.; Roadway Express, Inc.; Ronald C.L.
Smith Funeral Home; Samento Industrial Training Systems; Saturn of
Harrisburg; Valley Grange #1360; Wal-Mart Super Center of Chambersburg;
and Waste Management.
_______________________________________________________________________
Cumberland
and Franklin County
Safe Driving
Competition for Youth
Winners Announced
Mechanicsburg,
PA In a continuing effort to promote safe
driving among young drivers, South Central PA Highway Safety (SCPAHS)
conducted the annual Safe Driving Competition for Youth for
students in Cumberland and Franklin Counties. The event was hosted by the
Capital Area Intermediate Unit on Tuesday, April 18, 2006. Ten teams
consisting of three students from each of the following high schools
participated in the event: Big Spring; Boiling Springs; Camp Hill;
Carlisle; Cedar Cliff; Chambersburg; Cumberland Valley; Fannett-Metal;
James Buchanan; and Mechanicsburg. The competition was a cooperative
event among SCPAHS, the American Trauma Society, PA Division,
the
office of the Cumberland County Coroner, the PA Motor Truck Association (PMTA),
Roadway Express, Inc., PennDOT and both state and local police officers.
The competition consisted of a driving skills course
designed by members of the PMTA, who conducts similar safe driving events
for the trucking industry, a slide perception test and a written exam.
The top three overall winners were David Heath of Carlisle
High School who received a $1,000 savings bond for his first place win,
Dylan McAninch of Cumberland Valley High School who received a $500
savings bond for his second place win, and Cory Crider of Cedar Cliff High
School who received a $250 savings bond for his third place win. Overall
winners are determined by totaling the individual scores of each student
in the driving skills course, the slide perception test, and the written exam to
determine the highest achieved averages.
Savings bonds in the amount of $100 were awarded to the
following first place winners for the three individual elements of the
competition. Taking first place in the driving skills course and the
slide perception test was David Heath of Carlisle High School. The first
place winner in the written examination was Dylan McAninch of Cumberland
Valley High School.
Saving
bonds in the amount of $50 were also awarded to the students with the
overall highest score from each of the participating school that did not
place in one of the above categories. Students from the following high
schools were the overall school winners: Jordan Wardecker, Big Spring;
Kate Stuber, Boiling Springs; Shane Curran-Hays, Camp Hill; Matthew Bosenbark, Chambersburg; Justin Yeager, Fannett-Metal;
Cole
Hostler, James Buchanan;
and Maxine Cooper, Mechanicsburg.
First, second and third team competition awards were also
presented. Each school is represented by three students to make up the
school team. Winners of the team competition are determined by combining
the overall scores of each member of the team. Taking home the first
place trophy was the Cedar Cliff High School team who achieved the highest
combined overall average. The Carlisle High School team and the Boiling
Springs High School team placed second and third, respectively.
First and second place overall winners, Heath and McAninch, will move on
to compete in the State Safe Driving Competition to be held at the
Radisson Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill on Friday, May 12, 2006. Crider,
the third place overall winner, will serve as an alternate in the event
Heath or McAninch are unable to attend. The state competition will offer
$8,000 in prizes, including a $5,000 scholarship for the first-place
winner.
SCPAHS would like to thank the following businesses and
organizations for their support and donations, helping to make the 2006
student driving competition a great success: AAA of Central PA; Advantage
Driving School; Als Pizza; American Trauma Society, PA Division; Blue
Moon Cruisers; Bruners Service Center; Capital Area Intermediate Unit; CIESCO, Inc; Commerce Bank;
the office of the Cumberland County Coroner; Dauphin
County Chiefs of Police Association; Harrisburg Dairies; Herre Brothers;
Hershey Foods Corporation; Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Company; John
Smith and the Lee Wayne Corporation; Mayor Jack Ritter of Mechanicsburg;
Parthemore Funeral Home; Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association;
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; Phoenix Contact, Inc.; Roadway
Express, Inc.; Ronald C.L. Smith Funeral Home; Samento Industrial Training
Systems; Saturn of Carlisle Pike; Valley Grange #1360; and Wal-Mart Super
Center of Chambersburg.
_______________________________________________________________________
Teen Drivers and Alcohol are
Targeted during
Trauma Awareness Month
Mechanicsburg, PA
May is Trauma Awareness Month and the American Trauma
Society, PA Division (ATSPA) would like to increase public awareness
of the impacts of traumatic injury. Sadly, unintentional injuries are the
leading cause of death in the first four decades of life. In fact, injury
results in more years of productive life lost than cardiac disease, cancer
and stroke combined. Between 1996 and 2003, total spending on traumatic
injuries has doubled due to falls, assaults, and motor vehicle crashes,
which account for the greatest number of these deaths.
With motor vehicle crashes being the number
one cause of death among teenagers, ATSPA would like to emphasize the
dangers of teen drivers and alcohol during Trauma Awareness Month. The
crash risk for young drivers is greatest at night, and increases when
teenage passengers are in the car. According to the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,571 drivers ages 16- 20 died in
motor vehicle crashes in 2003. Alcohol was involved in 1,131, more than
31%, of these deaths.
Another alarming statistic reported by NHTSA
is that 74% of teen drivers who were
killed in motor vehicle crashes after drinking and driving were not
wearing seat belts. PennDOT reports encouraging news with an increase of
seat belt use increasing from 81.8% in 2004 to 83.3% in 2005, but there is
still room for improvement. This is especially true when you consider
that PennDOT estimates that for every percentage point increased in seat
belt usage, eight to 12 lives will be saved.
May is an ideal time for parents and
caregivers to talk to their children about teen alcohol use and buckling
up. It is also an excellent time to make your elected officials more
aware of the impact of trauma. Call, write or visit them and express your
concern for the need for more federal, state and local attention to trauma
and what must be done to reduce its impact on the lives of the people you
care about.
ATSPA has two excellent alcohol awareness
programs: Pieces of the Puzzle, a middle school alcohol program;
and C2H5O, Dying to be the Life of the Party,
a program that targets high school and college students. These
programs, complete with a facilitator guide, are interactive and available to
schools, community groups, church organizations, and others.
To learn more about these programs or for
information on how to talk to your children about alcohol, contact ATSPA
at 1 (800) 822-2358, (717) 766-1616. ATSPA is a non-profit trauma
prevention education organization dedicated to reducing suffering,
disability and death due to trauma.
