In 1994, about 700 victims were brought to the trauma center at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Half of those suffered injuries from motor vehicle crashes. Hospital records indicate that, of the elderly patients admitted, a very large proportion were victims of traffic crashes.
Children are also at higher risk because of a lack of proper use of occupant restraints.
Although the hospital treats fewer head injuries and injuries to the face and upper body as a result of increased seat belt use and engineering improvements made to vehicles, records indicate an increase in injuries to the lower extremities, where little protection is offered to vehicle occupants. The goal of the Morristown Memorial Hospital Injury Prevention Community Education Program is to increase awareness of injury prevention strategies. Personnel prepare training materials relevant to the targeted problem and population, train hospital staff in delivering presentations to the various target groups, and then deliver appropriate training to the targeted populations. Plans are also underway to implement outreach programs to heighten community awareness of both the risk of injuries and the availability of educational programs at the hospital. Many of the programs developed are geared toward children and the elderly, but there are also programs for the general population.