Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/998534
T M C » P U L S E | J U LY 2 0 1 8 36 The nonprofit research organization reported that, in 2016, more than 1,050 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver during this period—an average of 10 people per day and a 14 percent increase com- pared to the rest of the year. Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, also a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, provides teen driver safety education for adolescents and parents through a multi-faceted high school-based program called Live Your Dreams. "The CDC has designated danger zones for teens behind the wheel, and we see these danger zones increase during the summer— driver inexperience, driving with teen passengers, nighttime driving, not using seat belts, distracted driv- ing, drowsy driving, reckless driving and impaired driving," explained Sarah Beth Abbott, the injury prevention and outreach education coordinator at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. "We involve the teen and the parent and let them know about these dangerous behaviors and work to intervene." "Stop the Bleed" As gun-related incidents continue to rise throughout the U.S., trauma prevention teams also are prepared for a spike in gun-related injuries during the summer. "I would be remiss if I didn't say we've seen an increase in gunshot wounds," Beckworth said. "Here at Texas Children's, typically we see this after someone accessed a gun at a friend's house. The kids are playing and they find a parent's gun and play around with it and it goes off. It's often not an intentional or violent act." Memorial Hermann Red Duke Trauma Institute and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, together with Ben Taub Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital—all Level 1 trauma centers—recently rolled out Stop the Bleed, a national prevention campaign that teaches the general public how to apply a tourniquet. Alongside first respond- ers, individuals including HISD school nurses, parents and caregiv- ers can learn a lifesaving skill that has increasingly been credited with reducing fatalities from gunshot wounds. "It empowers people to respond and help those in need because, often, first responders will not be the first at the scene," said Abbott, add- ing that uncontrolled bleeding can be a result of many types of injuries, not just shootings. Abbott and Beckworth both stressed the need for adult super- vision as the No. 1 general rule for keeping kids safe—during the summer months and year-round. "If you're to watch the kids in the pool, then you are to watch the kids in the pool. You're not to watch the kids in the pool and Snapchat," Abbott said. Participants in "Stop the Bleed" training learn how to apply a tourniquet. I would be remiss if I didn't say we've seen an increase in gunshot wounds. Here at Texas Children's, typically we see this after someone accessed a gun at a friend's house. The kids are playing and they find a parent's gun and play around with it and it goes off. It's often not an intentional or violent act. — KRISTEN BECKWORTH