COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Health Department

 

DATE:

October 5, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 24, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department

Barbara Pletz, Emergency Medical Services

   

SUBJECT:

Presentation of Awards to High School Seat Belt Challenge Winners

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution recognizing the winners of the 2006 High School Seat Belt Challenge sponsored by the Health Department.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal(s): Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

 

The 2006 High School Seat Belt Challenge contributed to this commitment and goal by raising awareness among high school students about the importance of wearing seatbelts.

 

BACKGROUND:

Teenagers have the highest fatality rates in motor vehicle collisions of any age group. Nationally, over 5,000 teens lose their lives each year in car crashes. Of those who sustain fatal injuries, over two-thirds are not wearing seat belts. Research by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that lap/shoulder belts when worn properly can reduce by fifty percent the likelihood of fatal or serious injuries in automobile collisions.

 

DISCUSSION:

The Health Department received funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to implement the High School Seat Belt Challenge program. This is a peer-driven program that charges students with developing awareness campaigns aimed at increasing seat belt use by their fellow students. Participation for the 2006 Challenge was solicited from high schools within the Cabrillo Unified, Sequoia and San Mateo High School Districts. Throughout the month of September, Aragon, Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Mills, and Sequoia High Schools competed against each other to achieve the best overall seat belt usage rate. The High School Seat Belt Challenge began with the Health Department conducting baseline seat belt observational surveys at each school. A month of student-coordinated activities followed including the “Top 10 Reasons To Wear Seat Belts” contests, vehicle roll-over demonstrations by the California Highway Patrol, and students versus faculty buckle-up competitions. During the High School Seat Belt Challenge, students at the five participating high schools had the opportunity to engage in friendly competition while at the same time practicing the potentially life-saving and simple behavior of using seat belts. At the end of the month, a second observational survey was performed. Percentages from the two seat belt observational surveys were used to determine each school’s overall usage rate. Sequoia High School won the competition with the best overall seat belt usage rate of 95.5%, which exceeds the California average rate of 92.5%. Half Moon Bay High School finished in second place (94.9%), and Mills High School in third place (92.1%).

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The OTS Grant funded the school prizes. There is no Net County Cost associated with this program.