[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 22 (Monday, February 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5066-5067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2252]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-004-Notice 1]


Motor Vehicle Bystander Care Survey; Proposed Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments on data collection.

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SUMMARY: NHTSA will conduct a telephone survey as a major component of 
a two-site evaluation of its Bystander Care program. In accordance with 
the agency's mandate to reduce fatalities and economic loss resulting 
from motor vehicle crashes, the Bystander Care program was established 
to encourage passerby to stop at rural crash sites, render life-saving 
assistance, and summon emergency medical services (EMS). The program is 
designed to raise public awareness of the importance of bystander care, 
and to teach the few basic skills necessary to recognize an emergency, 
start victims' breathing, stop victims' bleeding, and contact EMS. The 
data from the survey will be used to evaluate the extent to which the 
bystander care messages have reached the public in targeted areas, the 
extent to which these messages were successful in changing attitudes 
towards providing emergency care, and the extent to which the program 
improved knowledge needed to successfully provide emergency care.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted April 4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to National Highway Safety 
Administration, Docket Section, Room 5109, Docket #97-004, No. 1, 400 
Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590.


[[Page 5067]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Helen Dear, Contracting Officer's 
Technical Representative, Office of Traffic Injury Control Programs, 
(NTS-14), National Highway Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
S.W., Room 5119, Washington, D.C. 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    NHTSA will conduct a survey as a major component of a two-site 
evaluation of its Bystander Care program. The other components of this 
evaluation include a review of existing EMS records, and a review of 
attendance records from providers of Bystander Care training. In 
accordance with the agency's mandate to reduce fatalities and economic 
loss resulting from motor vehicle crashes, the Bystander Care program 
was established to encourage passerbys to stop at rural crash sites, 
render life-saving assistance, and summon emergency medical services 
(EMS). The program is designed to raise public awareness of the 
importance of bystander care, and to teach the few basic skills 
necessary to recognize an emergency, start victims' breathing, stop 
victims' bleeding, and contact EMS. The program focuses on rural areas 
because a disproportionate number of fatalities occur there, possibly 
because of longer EMS response times, and fewer passerbys.
    The data from the survey will be used to evaluate the extent to 
which the bystander care messages have reached the public in targeted 
areas, the extent to which these messages were successful in changing 
attitudes towards providing emergency care, and the extent to which the 
program improved knowledge needed to successfully provide emergency 
care.
    The longitudinal telephone survey will be conducted in two waves: 
prior to the public campaign the first survey will gather baseline 
data. The second survey, approximately one year after the inception of 
the program, will assess changes from that baseline.
    Data from the evaluation will be used by NHTSA in judging the 
efficacy of the bystander care program. The design of the study will 
enable NHTSA to measure the impact of the program and improve the 
program by diagnosing any problem areas.

II. Method of Data Collection

    The survey will be conducted by telephone in two program sites. The 
baseline survey will interview a sample of approximately 400 
individuals over the age of 15, and the follow-up survey will attempt 
reinterviews with all baseline respondents. Reinterview rates of 75-80 
percent are expected. In addition, the follow-up survey will interview 
an additional 300 respondents to control for the potential sensitizing 
effects of the baseline survey on the panel respondents. The interviews 
will be aided by a computerized system to minimize interviewing and 
recording errors. The survey will be anonymous and confidential, and 
participation will be voluntary.
    The instruments will consist of three modules. The first module 
will gather information indicating the respondents' familiarity with 
the Bystander Care messages. This information will provide a gauge of 
the breadth of dissemination. The second module will gather information 
about respondent attitudes towards, and knowledge about, providing 
emergency care. Comparisons of this information before and after the 
campaign will provide a measure of the program's impact. The third and 
final module will gather demographic information about the respondents. 
The follow-up instrument will include only the first two modules for 
panel respondents. The modules for the follow-up survey will include a 
small number of items not asked of baseline respondents.

III. Use of Findings

    The findings will be used to judge the efficacy of the Bystander 
Care program. NHTSA will draw on this information when considering 
continuation, refinement, and expansion of the Bystander Care program.

IV. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: None.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: The population of two rural sites age 16 and older 
living in households with telephones.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400 first wave, 560 second wave.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10-15 minutes.
    Estimated Total Burden: 160-240 total hours.
    Estimated Total Cost: $17.50 per survey (baseline); $19.75 per 
survey (follow-up).

V. Requests for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for proper performance of the functions of the 
agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; 
(b) the accuracy of the estimated burden (including hours and cost) of 
the proposed data collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility 
and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for approval by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) of this information collection. Copies of all comments 
will be placed in Docket 97-004, Notice 1, in the NHTSA Docket Section 
in Room 5109, Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20590, and will become a matter of public record.
James H. Hedlund,
Associate Administrator for Traffic Safety Programs.
[FR Doc. 97-2252 Filed 1-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-M