May is Trauma Awareness Month which was established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan. It was established to teach people about trauma injuries and how to prevent injuries in different types of accidents. Each year they choose a theme. This years theme is Distracted to Death: Pay Attention or Pay the Price. Sounds kind of ominous but if you read further you get why. Our society is so distracted by our phones we are constantly on them. We drive with our eyes on our phones through texting or emailing or taking photos or even just chatting on the phone. We get distracted while we are walking around whether in the grocery store or on the sidewalk. I personally have seen people walk directly into oncoming traffic or into telephone poles while they are walking around lost in the world of their phones. It is scary. It is also funny, but it wouldn’t be funny if the person gets hits and actually dies from Distracted Walking. Here are some facts to consider:
- 3,166 people have died involving Distracted Drivers
- 6% of crashes are from distracted people
- 24 children have died from being left in a hot car because their caretakers is distracted by multitasking
- 52% of people walking are distracted and they get injured
- Average non-fatal injuries at work are from distraction and they cost the employer and average of $72,442 per accident
Here are some suggestions from Wellness Works NW:
- When driving put your phone away, if you are tempted by the phone then put it in your care trunk or the back seat where you can’t reach it
- While driving don’t be in a hurry, watch for pedestrians
- If you must answer a phone call or text while walking or driving, step to the side and stop walking or pull over and answer.
- While walking, put your phone away. Watch people, watch nature, feel the breeze, and enjoy your viewing.
- While walking only wear one headphone piece so you can hear what is around you
- Finally, use the crosswalk whenever it is available and look both ways before you cross
As always, Karen is always available for more suggestions and ideas. And if you want a great workout she is available online and we also have a YouTube channel with some great workout videos and more to come. Check it out and Subscribe to Wellness Works NW’s YouTube Channel.
Remember be safe and don’t be distracted.
Here are some links I would like to share with you:
- Dangers of Distracted Walking by Wendy Bumgardner for Very Well Fit
- Distraction walking injuries on the rise; 52 percent occur at home by National Safety Council Staff for Vision PR Newswire
- Head Up, Phone Down When Headed Back to School by National Safety Council Staff
- Motor Vehicle Safety at Work by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Staff
- National Trauma Awareness Month by American Trauma Society Staff
- National Trauma Survivors Day by Trauma Survivors Network Staff
- Research Shows That Anyone Could Forget Kids in Hot Card by Emily A. Thomas, PhD. for Consumer Reports
- Trauma Resources by Society of Trauma Nurses Staff
- Until Then It Can Wait Video by AT&T on YouTube
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Jamie Holloway is co-owner of Wellness Works NW and she is also our Research Manager and writes our Chasing Wellness with Jamie Holloway and Dear Jamie columns. Jamie is also an Independent Wellness Advocate at dōTERRA. She lives in the Portland, Oregon area. Since October 2011 she has been sharing her Journey Toward Health and Wellness with Vasculitis through her blog at JamieChasesButterflies.com. We hope you are as inspired as we are with the raw candor Jamie uses in her writing. If you would like to help support Jamie’s writing efforts please Donate now.
