| PROJECT CHARACTERISTICS |
PROGRAM AREA(S) |
| |
Innovative or nontraditional approach |
|
Emergency Medical Services |
| |
Targets hard-to-reach/at risk population |
|
Injury Prevention |
| |
|
|
Youth Programs |
| |
|
|
|
| TYPE OF JURISDICTION |
|
|
| |
State |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| TARGETED POPULATION(S) |
JURISDICTION SIZE |
| |
Youth |
|
9,480,000 |
|
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
As the number of bicycle/pedestrian
and motor vehicle injuries continued to increase in Michigan, state leaders
recognized a need to educate children about injury prevention activities
that could save their lives and the lives of others. In 1994, children under
15 years of age accounted for 31 of the 182 pedestrian/motor vehicle crash
fatalities in Michigan. Children under 15 also constituted 17 of the 29
bicycle deaths. Altogether, one person was injured every 5 minutes, 23 seconds
in a traffic crash in Michigan.
In 1996, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers in Michigan were interested
in conducting community safety programs targeting children; however; a traffic
safety curriculum with a bystander care component was not available for
use. To address the issue of injury prevention for children, Camp 9-1-1
was conceived.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of Camp 9-1-1 is to reduce the number of injuries to children 10
to 14 years old and their families by:
- Teaching children injury prevention behaviors
- Training children in a bystander care program
- Introducing youth to career and volunteer
opportunities in EMS
- Influencing the behavior of parents and others
by encouraging seat belt use among children
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
Camp 9-1-1 is an injury prevention education program targeting students
in grades 5 through 8. The two-day camp program addresses injury prevention
and bystander care skills.
To promote Camp 9-1-1, materials explaining the program were sent to all
ambulance services in Michigan's lower peninsula. Camp locations were chosen
based on a variety of factors including geographic location, potential number
of students and recruitment plans. A one-day counselor training session
was held at three camp locations.
Camp 9-1-1 program activities included:
- Training in seat belt use and bicycle/pedestrian
safety using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's)
SAFE" injury prevention curriculum
- Development of a logo for Camp 9-1-1 for use
on stationery, T-shirts for campers, and in counselor training and Bystander
Care kits
- Distribution of injury prevention materials
and a Camp 9-1-1 T-shirt to program participants
- Injury prevention videos, scenarios, and an
obstacle course featuring injury prevention stations
- Use of a ""brain" made of Jell-O"
to graphically demonstrate the protection provided by bicycle helmets
- Lessons on home safety inspections to prevent
common injuries, such as falls and burns
- Distribution of Bystander Care Kits; a fanny
pack with gloves, a face shield, first aid materials to control bleeding
and a Bystander Care Card summarizing program lessons
- A lesson discussing careers in EMS
RESULTS
More than 90 EMS providers completed
the counselor training, and approximately 417 students attended Camp 9-1-1
in 1996. Over 500 students are expected to attend in 1997. |
| FUNDING |
| |
Section 402: |
$20,000 |
| CONTACT |
|
| |
Sue Guggemos
Office of Highway Safety Planning
4000 Collins Road
P.O. Box 30633
Lansing, MI 48909-8133
(517) 333-5320 |
|
|
| National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
Spring 1997 |
