DISTRACTED DRIVING CAN BE DEADLY

You're headed home from work and your cell phone rings. As you struggle to pull your cell phone out of your back pocket, or fish through your purse to find it, the driver ahead of you suddenly slams on the brakes. Were you able to avoid a collision? According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use and other forms of distracted driving account for 80 percent of all vehicle crashes. The Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) reminds Iowans that when driving, your first responsibility is the safety of those in your vehicle and others on the road.

"Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related fatalities in Iowa," said Kathy Leinenkugel of the IDPH Occupational Safety and Health Surveillance program. "Highway crashes account for 31 percent of workplace deaths in the state." Three county employees died in Iowa over the past two years in motor vehicle crashes.

Many drivers don't believe they are distracted; they feel 'in control' and able to 'multi-task' while driving. How do you know when you're driving distracted?

  • Have you run a stop sign unintentionally?
  • Have you driven from one place to another without remembering the route?
  • Have you slammed on your brakes because you didn't see the car in front of you stop?


These are all signs of distracted driving. When you are driving, all your attention should be on that task. Avoid the dangers of distracted driving by staying focused and safe:

  • If you need to use your cell phone while driving, pull over to a safe location and put the car in Park.
  • Hands-free cell phones are not safer.
  • Avoid driving while fatigued.
  • Constantly be aware of the roadway ahead to see situations that could require you to take quick action.
  • Crash rates for teen drivers with teen passengers increase significantly with each additional passenger. Limit who rides with your teen.

IDPH Press Release -- 6/16/2009

For more information about distracted driving and other safety issues to be considered during National Safety Month, visit www.nsc.org/nsm.

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50 YEARS OF FLUORIDATION

Eight Iowa communities honored.  The Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH), Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD), American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are honoring eight Iowa communities for 50 years of participation in Iowa's community water fluoridation program. The communities being recognized are Cedar Falls, Chariton, Corning, Estherville, Marshalltown, Ames, Ottumwa, and St. Ansgar.

"It is fantastic that these towns have been providing fluoridated water to their citizens for over 50 years," said State of Iowa Public Health Dental Director and Bureau Chief, Dr. Bob Russell. "This is especially notable because fluoridation programs didn't become widespread until the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. These towns began their programs as early as 1957."

Scientific studies conducted over the last five decades have provided strong evidence that water fluoridation is effective in preventing tooth decay. At a cost of less than one dollar per person to fluoridate water systems serving most people, community water fluoridation is a cost-effective way to benefit all residents with a way to prevent tooth decay in children and adults. IDPH currently monitors the fluoridation operations of the 245 public water systems that adjust fluoride.

IDPH Press Release -- 6/30/2009

For more information about water fluoridation in Iowa, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/fluoridation.asp.