bicycle injuries in your national parks cdr sara newman lt jennifer cheng-dobson public risk...
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Bicycle Injuries in Your National Parks
CDR Sara Newman
LT Jennifer Cheng-Dobson
Public Risk Management Program
National Park Service
USPHS Scientific and Training Symposium 2012
June 20, 2012
Overview
• Background• Bicycle injuries in the National Park
Service (NPS)• Prevention strategies in parks• Case examples
National National Park Service Regions
Injuries in the U.S.
• Injury is the leading cause of death among persons ages 1-44 (2007)
• 1 person dies from injury every 3 min• > 2.8 million hospitalized each year• > $406 billion in medical costs and lost
productivity
CDC. www.cdc.gov/injury/overview/leading_cod.html. 2007
Bicycle Injuries in the US (2010)
• 618 fatal– 87% male– 64% between ages 25-64 years
• 51,000 non-fatal– 80% male– 51% between ages 25-64 years
• $4 billion/yr
NHTSA www.bicyclinginfo.org 2009
"If a disease were killing our children at the rate unintentional injuries are, the public would be outraged and demand that this
killer be stopped."
-C. Everett Koop,
US Surgeon General 1982-1989
Injuries in our national parks
• On average 3 visitors die in our parks every week*
• An average of 14 people are seriously injured in our parks every day
Source: GPRA 2005-2011 * Due to Unintentional Injuries or Accidents
Distribution of Injuries
• 100% of fatal injuries reported by 55 parks (2011)
• 97% of injuries reported by 100 parks (2011)
Source: PMDS 2011* Due to Unintentional Injuries
Demographic of Visitor Injuries
• 76% male, 17% female (7% unk)
10 and under 11-21 22-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+0
5
10
15
20
25
30
4
17
24
2021
18
13
NPS Fatal Visitor Injuries, by Age, FY2011*
Age Group
Nu
mb
er o
f F
atal
itie
s
PRMP Visitor Injury Data SystemN=117, Unknown = 38
Unintentional Visitor Fatalities, by Cause, FY2011
Drowning
Motor vehicle crash
Fall/Slip
Natural/Environmental
Wildlife/Animal
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
64
29
28
17
4
PRMP Visitor Injury Data SystemN=155
Bicycle Injuries in NPS
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
NPS Bicycle Fatalities
• 2007-2011: 12 bike related fatalities• 83% male• 75% between the ages of 25-65• 25% involved collision with a motor
vehicle
Studying three national parks
• George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail (VA/DC/MD)
• Cape Cod National Seashore (MA)• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National
Historic Park (DC/MD/WV)• Others: Saguaro (AZ), Golden Gate
(CA), Rock Creek Park (DC/MD)
Bicycle Injury Results
• Bicycle injuries were the leading cause of injury at each park
• Fatal bike injuries at one park• More females than males at Cape Cod• Between 56%-71% between ages 25-64
Prevention Strategies – 3E’s
• Engineering• Enforcement• Education
National Park Service Mission
“ …to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Title 16 Chapter 1, Section 1
Organic Act of 1916
Park Service Challenges
• Multiple types of terrains– Trails (paved and not)– Roads– Trails crossing roads– Uneven pavement
• Can’t always meet industry standards• Multiple jurisdictions• Limited environment control
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon Trail (DC/MD/VA)
Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010
City of Alexandria Junior Bike AmbassadorsGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD
Trail ride with a ranger Mutual outreach at Trail Days
Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010
Brochures and maps
Bike bell installation
Education
Trail Days – Mount Vernon TrailGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD
Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010
2010 Trail Pledges & Contact CardsGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway, VA/DC/MD
Charles Opalak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2010
Bicycle Safety at the SeashoreCape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Cape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Bicycle Safety at the SeashoreCape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Bicycle Safety at the SeashoreCape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Safety SignsCape Cod National Seashore, MA
Brenna Woziak. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2011
Successful Prevention Strategies
Haleakala National Park, HI
Sara Newman, 2007
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH
Luke Hamilton. PRMP Visitor Safety Intern, 2009
Safe is Sound
• Reduced injuries by 83% in target areas
• Removed poles blocking road
• Extended rails on trails
• Enhanced education to cyclists
Cuyahoga Valley National Park. 2012
Data Limitations/ Challenges
• Incomplete injury data• No injury rates • Lacking detailed and accurate visitation
data• Lack of dedicated staff in public risk
management
Summary
• Injury prevention in the national parks provides a unique challenge
• Combining the 3E strategy has worked• More effective strategies result from
better data
Next Steps
• Enhance data • Focus on program evaluation
Acknowledgements
• Charles Opalak• Brenna Woziak• Brian Werner• Cuyahoga Valley National Park, OH• Haleakala National Park, HI
CDR Sara Newman, DrPH, MCP
(202) 513-7225
LT Jennifer Cheng-Dobson, MPH
(202) 513-7219