Purdue News
Purdue News
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Purdue health center launches seat belt campaignWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Student Wellness Office at the Purdue University Student Health Center announced today (Friday, 8/18) that it has launched the Buckle Up, Boilers campaign in an effort to save lives and reduce injury and disability. The Student Wellness Office will be joined by Purdue's Center for the Advancement of Transportation Safety, the Employee Wellness Program, Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office, Lafayette Police Department, West Lafayette Police Department, Purdue University Police and a host of other offices and organizations to help spread the message that seat belts save lives and reduce injuries in crashes. This fact came home to Purdue last school year. From December 1999 through May 2000, five Purdue students lost their lives in crashes where they were not wearing seat belts. "Despite the recent focus on terrible traffic safety problems, such as aggressive driving and excessive speed, increasing seat belt use is still the single most effective thing we can do to save lives and reduce injuries on America's roadways," said Nancy Maylath, director of the Student Wellness Office. "By partnering with others on campus and in the community, we hope to raise public awareness about the impact being unbuckled has on our students, employees and their families." Beginning Monday (8/21), Buckle Up, Boilers windshield reminder stickers will be distributed at the Visitor Information Center, University Residences, Purdue Memorial Union, Purdue Student Health Center and by the Purdue Police Department. Car owners displaying stickers will be eligible for prizes to be awarded weekly, starting Sept. 1. "With national seat belt use currently at 68 percent and Indiana's seat belt use at about 57 percent, there is much to do to reach the national goal of 90 percent usage by the year 2005," said Maria Drake of Purdue's Center for the Advancement of Transportation Safety. Drake and her office are helping to evaluate the impact of the campaign and providing other technical assistance. Marcy Garriott of Purdue's Employee Wellness Program will be leading the employee-focused Buckle Up, Boilers campaign later this fall. In addition, Garriott and Drake will announce a new program for child passenger safety to coincide with the seat belt campaign. CONTACT: Maylath, (765) 494-9559; nmaylath@purdue.edu.
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