Most Dangerous Accidents Facing Your Family

Safety By The Doctors Staff on 4:00 AM PDT, September 21, 2009

From car accidents and playground injuries to head trauma and potential home disasters, The Doctors help you prepare for the most dangerous accidents facing your family.

Don't Text and Drive
Sending text messages from your cell phone while driving has become one of the greatest dangers on the road. One out of every four auto fatalities is related to the use of a cell phone or texting, a statistic that tops 10,000 per year.

A recent study reveals that driving while texting is just as lethal as driving while under the influence. In fact, you are 23 times more likely to be in an accident if you are texting behind the wheel. Watch the shocking video.

Driving and Texting Demonstration
Erin, a college student, confesses that she texts and drives frequently. She agrees to undertake a Drive Square’s driving simulation test to see how well she fares behind the wheel while she texts.

See how texting impairs driving.


Car Escape

E.R. physician Dr. Travis Stork demonstrates how to use two different car escape devices. The Nov8 LifeHammer and ResQMe both allow a person to cut through a seatbelt and break the glass in their car.

Watch how it's done!


Accident Safety Tips:

  • After an accident, pull out of traffic and turn off your ignition
  • Call the police
  • Do a first-aid check on everyone in your car
  • Call 911, if medical aid is required
  • If necessary, apply first aid
  • Unless your car is on fire, do not move injured passengers, as you may aggravate injuries
  • Turn on your hazard lights and mark the scene with flares or cones
  • Gather the names of everyone in all vehicles involved in the crash, as well as any witnesses
    •


First-Aid Kits
Learn the essentials for every first-aid kit. 





Playground Safety
Nearly 156,000 American children are hurt on playgrounds every year. Follow these simple steps to ensure your kids stay safe!




Dislocated Shoulder
Dr. Travis demonstrates how to restore a dislocated shoulder on actor Taylor Kinney, one of the stars of NBC's upcoming television show Trauma.

See emergency medicine in action.



Home Health Hazards
Plastic surgeon Dr. Drew Ordon and pediatrician Dr. Jim Sears review potential hazards in your home and how to avoid them.




Head Injuries
A head injury is any trauma that injures the scalp, skull or brain. One of the most common head injuries is a concussion.
How do you know when it's a concussion?




Sudden Death in Athletes
Dr. Keith Mankowitz, Director of the Athletes' Screening Program, says the most common cause of sudden deaths in young athletes is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic condition that thickens the walls of the heart.
Learn more about screening athletes.


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OAD 9/21/09