ProMedica recognizes Ntl. Distracted Driving Awareness Month

        April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month, and ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital’s Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Department is taking the opportunity to educate the community in hopes of decreasing the number of teen distracted driving crashes in Lucas County. This will be done through a number of outlets.
        A lack of experience behind the wheel puts teens more at risk for crashes. Adding any distraction, especially a cell phone, causes them to be even more likely to crash.
        According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the likelihood of a teen crashing while driving increases six times when inputting a phone number and 23 times if they choose to text.
        Teenagers and their parents can get information on distracted driving throughout the month on the “Rollin’ Smart” Facebook and Instagram accounts. Every Sunday in April, there will be giveaways on the accounts. Those who comment on the distracted driving posts will be entered into a drawing to win prizes donated by local businesses. One comment equals one entry.
        On April 12, teenagers can visit a participating Dunkin’ location to receive a free donut. They must show their student ID to participate. Participating locations include 2474 Navarre Ave., Oregon; 2709 Central Ave., Toledo and 5649 W. Alexis Rd., Sylvania.
        There will be interactive booths at Franklin Park Mall on April 10 and at The Shops at Fallen Timbers on April 24. Members from the ProMedica Ebeid Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Department will distribute informational brochures and have a distracted driving simulator for teens to experience. Prizes and giveaways will also be available to teens by answering questions related to distracted driving.  Note: COVID-19 safety protocols will be required when visiting the booths.
        “Ensuring the safety of the communities we serve has always been of the utmost importance to ProMedica,” said Taylor Meehan, ProMedica Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Specialist. “We are looking forward to educating new drivers and their parents on safe driving habits.”
        The initiative is funded by a grant awarded by the Ohio Department of Health, as a sub-award of a grant issued by Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grant under the Injury Prevention Program by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the State Farm Teen and Distracted Driving grant the department was awarded.