According to Eyler, Et. Al. (2016) by changing public policies we can effectively affect public health. I chose the current policies related to the public health achievement of motor vehicle safety (Eyler, Et. Al, 2016). By looking at the related public strategies to achieve this by requiring safety belts and child safety seats; requiring motorcycle helmets; and programs for decreased drinking and driving (Eyler, Et. Al, 2016).
So, our goal with the population is to make it safer to do one of the most dangerous things that you can do, driving. Let’s start with why to wear a seatbelt as an adult. Millions of adults admit to not wearing a seatbelt, in 2016 almost half of the people who died in a car accident were not wearing a seat belt, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among Americans aged 1-54, ejection from a vehicle makes it 20x more likely to end in a fatality (Kailee Mills Foundation, 2020). Now on to why we should put our children into safety seats until they properly fit a seat belt. Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children in the US, by just putting a child into a proper safety seat it reduces serious and fatal injuries by up to 80% (Child Passenger Safety, n.d.). If a person riding a motorcycle decides to wear a helmet while riding their risk of head injury is reduced by 69% and risk for death by 42% (Kennedy, 2020). Also riders are twice as likely to have a cervical spine injury when not wearing a helmet (Kennedy, 2020).
DQ: Select an effective current health policy that focuses on or affects population health
Eyler, A. A., & Brownson, R. (2016, January). The Power of Policy to Improve Health. Oxford Medicine Online. https://oxfordmedicine.com/view/10.1093/med/9780190224653.001.0001/med-9780190224653-chapter-1
Kailee Mills Foundation. (2020, September 15). Seat Belt Safety | Kailee Mills Foundation | Texas Charity. https://www.kaileemillsfoundation.org/seat-belt-safety/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6ZOIBhDdARIsAMf8YyENuWKlTbxcL2ZHAfGPREQitnwA6B9999Gkll27nMWRi6VBf8NDvtMaAmD7EALw_wcB
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