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Battle of the Belts |
Safe Kids Florida Suncoast Pasco Council led by All Children's Hospital, Inc., and the Pasco County Community Traffic Safety Team (CTST) in partnership with sponsors State Farm and Small World Pediatrics, are leading an effort to increase safety belt use by our teenage drivers and passengers. Every year we hear the heart breaking stories of teens lost in a car crash. Oftentimes they would still be with us if only they were wearing a safety belt.
State Farm presents $5,000 to All Children's Hospital at a Safe Kids meeting in Pasco. Left to right: Suzanne Tomasiello, Safe Kids Pasco Secretary and Radiological Technologist at All Children's Specialty Care of Pasco; Kelly McCullough, Safe Kids Pasco Chairperson; Ellen Aders, State Farm, Amy Heinzen, Safe Kids Pasco Coordinator; Amy Schultz, Safe Kids Pasco Vice-Chairperson.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American teenagers. In fact, teens have the highest fatality rate in motor vehicle crashes than any other age group. They have the lowest safety belt use rates of all drivers. This rate is even lower when there are multiple teens in the vehicle.
The Battle of the Belts program was initiated in an effort to change these statistics and increase safety belt use amongst teenagers. This year in Pasco County, this campaign was conducted at participating high schools during the week of March 2 - 6, 2009. The goal of this campaign is for high school students to convince their peers to always wear their safety belts. Student organization like S.A.D.D. or student government associations were asked to create a unique campaign for their high school to encourage fellow students to wear their seat belts during every ride in a motor vehicle. High Schools in Pasco County were invited to participate through their school resource officers (SROs).
Award categories include 1) highest seat belt use, 2) most improved seat belt use, 3) best school campaign, 4) best public service announcement, 5) best poster, and 6) best essay.
Participating High Schools include: Hudson, River Ridge, Ridgewood, Gulf, JW Mitchell, Sun Lake, Land O' Lakes, Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel, and Zephyrhills.
2009 Battle of the Belts Winning Schools
Poster Contest
First Place - Hudson High School $250 award to Amanda Smith
Second Place - Wesley Chapel High School $100 award to Steven Polania
Essay Contest
First Place - Sebrina Chaplain, Hudson High School, $250 award
Second Place - Kenneth Robert Taylor Booth, Gulf High School, $100 award
PSA Contest
Wesley Chapel High School - $1100 award to the SADD Group
Campaign Book
Gulf High School - $1100 award to the SADD Group
Highest % in INCREASED USE
Zephyrhills High School - $1100 to the SADD Group
HIGHEST OVERALL SEAT BELT USE
Wesley Chapel High School - $1500 to the SADD Group
Congratulations to the winners and THANK YOU to our sponsors and schools for making the 2009 Battle of the Belts program possible.
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