Traffic Crashes Send 3.5 Million to ERs

Traffic Crashes Send 3.5 Million to ERs
Of those, 8,000 died in emergency department, federal report shows

THURSDAY, Jan. 14, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. hospital emergency departments treated 3.5 million motor vehicle crash victims who had injuries ranging from bruises and scrapes to life-threatening trauma in 2006, a new government study finds.

About 85 percent (3 million) of the patients were treated and released, 321,000 were admitted or transferred to another acute care hospital for inpatient care, and about 8,000 patients died in the emergency department, according to the latest News and Numbers, released Wednesday by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

The analysis of 2006 data also found that:

* 37 percent of crash victims were treated in hospital trauma centers equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical care to patients with life-threatening injuries, while the rest were treated in hospitals not designated as trauma centers.

* About 55 percent of the patients had private health insurance, 25 percent were uninsured, 10 percent had Medicaid coverage, 4 percent had Medicare coverage, and 7 percent had other types of coverage.

* 44 percent of the injuries treated were sprains, 35 percent were superficial injuries such as scrapes, 15 percent were fractures, 10 percent were open wounds, 5 percent were head injuries, and 3 percent were internal injuries of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis.

Distracted Drivers

FocusDriven Seeks to Crack Down on Distracted Drivers

Federal government, safety group target use of cell phones and texting devices

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- More than 500,000 people were injured and nearly 6,000 people were killed last year in motor-vehicle accidents involving a driver who was distracted while using a cell phone or texting device, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported Tuesday.

To cut down on the growing number of injuries and deaths caused by distracted drivers, federal officials and safety advocacy groups have joined forces to get states to ban such activities while driving.

"We are on a rampage about this," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said during a Tuesday afternoon press conference. "Distracted driving is a serious, life-threatening epidemic that steals loved ones from us and puts responsible drivers in danger."

Accidents involving cell phone use and texting are "entirely preventable," he said.

An estimated 100 people die every day in traffic accidents in the United States, National Safety Council President Janet Froetscher said during the press conference. A year ago the council called for a total ban on cell phone use while driving, she said.

"Twenty-eight percent of all crashes are caused by the use of cell phone and texting devices each year," she said.

"We estimate that 25 percent of crashes, or 1.4 million crashes each year, are caused by drivers using their cell phones, and an additional 3 percent are caused by drivers that are using texting devices," Froetscher added.

Using a cell phone or a texting device while driving increases the risk of an accident eight to 23 times, she said, adding, "No cell phone call or text message is worth somebody's life."

The federal government has already taken steps to crack down on cell phone calling and texting while driving. LaHood said that President Barack Obama on Dec. 30 issued an executive order banning federal employees from using cell phones and texting devices while behind the wheel.

And Congress is considering a bill that would offer states incentives to pass laws against cell phone use while driving, and to punish states without such bans, La Hood said.

LaHood said he believes in tough laws and penalties, but he's not waiting for Congress to act. "We are not going to sit around, we are not going to wait around for Congress -- we're moving ahead," he said.

As part of Tuesday's press conference, LaHood announced the formation of a group called FocusDriven, made up of people who have lost a relative to an accident caused by a driver talking on a cell phone or texting.

"We are molded as a MADD-styled (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) campaign to protect the drivers of our nation's roadways," said Jennifer Smith, a FocusDriven board member who lost her mother in a car accident involving a distracted driver.

"Our mission is to prevent injuries and save lives by eliminating cell phone use while driving," she added.

Said LaHood: "It's up to all of us to keep our eyes on the road every single time we are behind the wheel."

To learn more, visit the FocusDriven Web site.

Memorial Marks Spot Where Mother, Daughter Killed

THE PORT ARTHUR NEWS, TEXAS | MARY MEAUX | Fri, Jan 1, 2:25 AM

Jan. 1, 2010 -- PORT NECHES -- A cold December wind made ripples in Larry Dupuis' jacket as he stood at the spot where his wife and daughter were killed three years ago.

Two white crosses, each adorned with a wreath, bear the names Rowena Dupuis and Karmen Dupuis and the words 'was killed at this location by a drunk driver.'

Dupuis, who is blind, was accompanied by his mother-in-law Ruby Myers, and members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the placement of the two markers on Thursday at the intersection of Magnolia and Merriman in Port Neches.

The markers are a way to bring awareness to the public of the dangers of driving under the influence, Kathy Bell-Schexnaider, a senior victim advocate with the Beaumont chapter of MADD.

Large commercial vehicles roared past, their noise intermingled with the revving of a motorcycle and the occasional honk of a car horn during the solemn New Years Eve ceremony.

The widower's message was simple.

"I wish for people to have a good time tonight but if they drink, get a designated driver, get someone to take them home, call a cab," Dupuis said.

Rowena, 52, and Karmen, 17, Dupuis were on their way to see "The Nutcracker Suite" in Orange on Dec. 1, 2006 when their car was struck by a drunk driver.

Colin Romero ran a red light at the intersection of FM 366 and Merriman Street striking the Dupuis' vehicle and causing it to spin into traffic and hit a third vehicle. A fourth vehicle that was stopped at the light was also struck during the accident, according to police.

The mother died instantly while the daughter died a short time later.

Romero pleaded guilty to reckless manslaughter and on Oct. 6, 2008, Judge Lane sentenced Romero to two 18 year sentences to run concurrently. As of Dec. 1, 2009, Romero was placed in parole review. He has been in prison for 14 months, Schexnaider said.

Schexnaider hopes the memorials will be a visual reminder of the dangers of drinking and driving.

mmeaux@panews.com