Shepherd Center is pleased to announce it has received a $19,768.72. grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). For the fourth consecutive year, Shepherd Center will continue utilizing the Safe System Approach, with its Rural Roads Seatbelt Safety Project. The grant year began on Oct.1, 2026, and will end on Sept. 30, 2027. 

The grant will help finance increasing seat belt compliance using a social norming campaign targeting rural Georgians. 

“Although seat belts are the best way to protect yourself in the event of a crash and have been well-documented to save lives and reduce injuries, seatbelt compliance continues to be a challenge,” said Emma Harrington, director of injury prevention at Shepherd Center. 

In the project’s third year, Harrington continued working on a renewed media push as well as several community events geared toward seat belt safety and ended the year with a compliance rate of 93.8% up from a starting point of 79.9% in 2024. 

“The Governor's Office of Highway Safety continues to work with state and local agencies to develop innovative projects and campaigns that are designed to save lives and protect everyone traveling on Georgia's roads and highways,” said Allen Poole, Director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. "We remind all drivers that following the rules of the road not only helps saves your life but also helps to make sure others make it home safely to their families as well." 

Shepherd Center and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety ask that drivers do their part to make the roads safer. 

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety's mission is to educate the public on safe driving behaviors and implement highway safety campaigns and programs designed to reduce crashes and eliminate fatalities and injuries on Georgia roads. For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org. 
 

It’s guidance many drivers have heard time and time again, yet distracted driving continues to be a public health crisis. In 2024, 3,208 people were killed and 315,167 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

While cellphones can be a major distraction for drivers, other kinds of distractions can also claim drivers’ attention on the road, like a spilled drink or a missed exit. Luckily, there are steps you can take to stay focused while driving.

For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, experts from Shepherd Center share their advice to ensure a distraction-free drive, keeping you, your passengers, and other people on the road safe.

JJ Brown

Driver/Tech, Recreation Therapy Program

The Recreation Therapy team is committed to promoting safe, attentive driving — especially when driving patients during community outings. Taking a few simple steps to stay focused behind the wheel can make a big difference in keeping everyone safe. Here are some practical tips to help reduce distractions while driving:

• Lead by example: Whether transporting others or driving in your personal life, modeling attentive, distraction-free driving encourages others to do the same.
• Practice patience, slow down, and manage frustration: Traffic can be unpredictable, and it’s easy to feel frustrated. Take a breath, give yourself extra time, and avoid reacting to other drivers. Staying calm helps you stay focused and make safer decisions.
• Prepare before you start driving: Set your GPS, adjust mirrors, choose your music, secure all passengers and any personal items before putting the vehicle in motion. A few extra seconds upfront can prevent distractions later.
• Stay aware of your surroundings: Regularly scan the road, check mirrors, and anticipate what other drivers might do. Staying mentally engaged helps prevent your mind from wandering.
• Limit multitasking: Avoid eating, adjusting controls, or reaching for items while driving. Even small actions can take your attention off the road longer than you realize.
• Create a calm driving environment: Keep noise levels manageable and minimize anything that could pull your attention away, like loud music or clutter in the vehicle.

Photo caption: Brown, right, with close friend Chris Heitzman. Both are former Shepherd patients — Brown sustained a spinal cord injury in 2018. Read more about Brown's story here. 
 

Matt Abisamra, OTR/L, CDRS

Program Supervisor, Driving Evaluation and Rehabilitation Program

If you’re using hand controls to operate your vehicle, you can’t free up your hands to adjust the radio, temperature, or other settings. But, you can prepare before starting your drive to make sure you have a comfortable and safe environment.

• Connect your phone to your car via Bluetooth for hands-free communications, navigation, and adjust to your music or podcasts.
• Use your car’s auto temperature setting to keep a consistent and comfortable temperature.
• Ideally, find a vehicle with automatic lights and windshield wipers, so if weather conditions change while you’re on the road, you’re prepared.

Additionally, for some of our clients with cognitive challenges, GPS apps offer support even on routine drives. Apps that tell drivers which lane to be in are especially helpful and can keep drivers focused on the road.

Photo caption: Abisamra, right, works with a client in the Driving Evaluation and Rehabilitation Program
 

Emma Harrington, MSPS

Director of Injury Prevention

• Set an example for your kids: Model the behavior you want to see from your future teen driver and lay the groundwork for a culture of safety in your home before the car seats turn around.
• Georgia is a hand-free state: Before you shift into gear set your music, podcasts, and GPS routes. If you need to adjust anything, pull over safely.
• Use technology that helps you block… technology: Enable your phone’s built‑in Driving Focus/Auto‑Silence modes or use blocking apps that disable notifications while driving.
• Set expectations for a culture of safety with your loved ones: Let family, friends, and coworkers know you do not respond while driving.
• Treat all alerts as distractions: Infotainment screens, smart watches, smart glasses. They all count.
• Let passengers help — or hold you accountable: Passengers can manage music, messages, or navigation. When you’re the passenger, reinforce a culture of safety and offer to help the driver.

Photo caption: Harrington is the Director of Injury Prevention.

Shepherd has become a leader in the injury prevention community through constant innovation, focusing not simply on behavior change, but also on safe road systems, advocating for better engineering and infrastructure, and building local coalitions to take on these life-and-death issues long-term. “When I started in 2014, we mostly produced flyers and brochures,” Emma says.  “But it’s evolved into much more of an evidence-based public health approach, targeting the top mechanisms of injury for the patients we treat—motor vehicle crashes, violence, falls, and, in  the summer, diving.” 

It may be impossible to tell how many people were not injured because of any intervention, but statistics show that the safe-highway system approach, which focuses on safe road users, safe vehicles, safe speeds, safe roads, and post-crash care, works. “They’ve been doing it in Europe for decades, and in Australia and New Zealand,” Emma says. “They’ve saved lives. We know it’s possible. The behavioral change piece is still there, but it’s with the assumption that we’re humans and we’re going to make mistakes. So, how can we lessen the impact of those mistakes? It’s exciting to be on the cutting edge of change.”

Written by Teresa Weaver

This story is an excerpt from “Mission Moments: 50 Years of Rebuilding Lives One Moment at a Time,” a book celebrating Shepherd’s 50th anniversary in 2025. You can explore the full eBook or purchase a hardcover copy here. 

Over the last five decades, Shepherd Center has evolved from a six-bed hospital specializing in spinal cord injury care into the premier neurorehabilitation facility of the Southeast, offering state-of-the-art care for patients experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. 

The FY25 Annual Report: On a Mission showcases how Shepherd staff members, patients and families, and supporters are on a mission — to provide top-notch care, return to their communities and what they love most, and to support the recovery of current and future patients. The report also details the past year’s achievements and progress, including new buildings and renovations to Shepherd’s existing facilities, as well as other milestones achieved in Pursuing Possible: The Campaign for Shepherd Center.

The full report is available for download here.  

Shepherd Center is pleased to announce it has received a $233,971.59 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS). For the third consecutive year, Shepherd Center will continue utilizing the Safe System Approach, with its Rural Roads Seatbelt Safety Project. The grant year began on Oct.1, 2025, and will end on Sept. 30, 2026. 

The grant will help finance increasing seat belt compliance using a social norming campaign targeting rural Georgians. 
 

“Although seat belts are the best way to protect yourself in the event of a crash and have been well-documented to save lives and reduce injuries, seatbelt compliance continues to be a challenge,” said Emma Harrington, director of injury prevention at Shepherd Center. 
 

In the project’s second year, Harrington continued working on a renewed media push as well as several community events geared toward seat belt safety. 
 

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our partners continue to implement programs designed to save lives and promote safe driving behaviors,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. 
 

Shepherd Center and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety ask that drivers do their part to make the roads safer. 
 

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety's mission is to educate the public on safe driving behaviors and implement highway safety campaigns and programs designed to reduce crashes and eliminate fatalities and injuries on Georgia roads. For more information on this grant program, contact GOHS at 404-656-6996, and for more information on GOHS and its other highway safety programs, visit www.gahighwaysafety.org. 


 

Some things that may increase your risk for a fall include:

·      Changes in vision

·      Decreased strength or impaired sensation

·      Lack of sleep

·      Medication side effects

·      Footwear that is not supportive or does not protect against slippery surfaces

·      Using an assistive device improperly or choosing not to use an assistive device when needed

·      Changes in blood pressure

·      Changing positions quickly

·      Fear of falling

But there are lots of tools available to reduce your risk.

“We have multiple strategies in place to reduce falls while in rehab and to help carry over fall prevention at home,” says Kallie Little, PT, DPT, a physical therapist in the inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Program.

The interdisciplinary care team works with patients throughout inpatient rehabilitation to practice safe mobility, safe environment setup, cognitive strategies (including pausing before an action to think through the steps required to complete it), and proper assistive device use. Team members provide independent instruction to caregivers on how to best assist with mobility needs to help reduce the risk of falls at home. A home modifications education class for patients and caregivers includes recommendations specific to the patient’s residence.

Little says that patients and caregivers have the opportunity to do a trial run of their routines with an “in-center pass,” which allows them to practice their day- and nighttime routines with Shepherd staff nearby to offer guidance and support. Then, the care team can address any concerns that arise before discharge.

Shepherd’s Transition Support Program (TSP) provides an additional layer of care after discharge for patients who need it. Bridget Smith, CTRS, a life skills therapist with TSP, assists patients post-discharge as they adjust to being home.

“Part of my initial evaluation is a home evaluation. So I go into their homes, I assess all areas of the home for safety, accessibility, and often, if the therapists have made recommendations, I can make sure that they've followed through on those, or if not, maybe see if we can problem-solve it a different way,” Smith explains.

Smith looks for fall hazards and ways to mitigate them, guides former patients on positioning equipment properly, and works to ensure that the patient's equipment stays aligned with their changing needs.

Since it’s essential for people to continue to exercise after discharge to maintain or improve strength and balance, Smith guides them in finding the best areas to exercise at home.

“And then I can assess: ‘Should you do this alone, or wait until your caregiver is with you?’ And pick and choose which exercises they can do more independently.”

Smith can help her clients develop a “dos and don’ts list” of safe activities around the house. She also talks to them about what to do in the instance of a fall — including practicing floor transfers, discussing the use of cameras or fall alert systems, and reminding caregivers that it’s okay to call another family member, a neighbor, or even 911 for help.

Here are some things you can do to reduce fall risk:

·      Place a call bell and all your needs within reach

·      Lock your bed or wheelchair

·      Ensure appropriate lighting, including nightlights

·      Remove obstacles and clutter in your home

·      Secure grab bars in key locations in the bathroom

·      Install non-slip tread on ramps, steps, and in bathtubs

·      Wear supportive, non-slip footwear

·      Know the side effects of your medications and talk with your doctor and pharmacist about potential side effects that make you feel dizzy. 

·      Limit alcohol use

·      Stay up to date on maintenance for your wheelchair and other mobility aids

·      Schedule an annual appointment for wheelchair adjustments to ensure your positioning accessories function properly and to reduce fall risk

·      Wait for a caregiver to be present if you need help with mobility

·      Sit up or get out of bed slowly, to reduce the risk of feeling lightheaded and off balance

·      If you can stand, consider sitting during nighttime visits to the bathroom

·      Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing new dizziness, lightheadedness, loss of balance, or falls.

You can play an active role in preventing falls and protecting your independence by taking a little time to plan and prepare.  You’ll find more tips at MyShepherdConnection.org.

Seat belts are the single best way to protect yourself in a crash, and numerous studies have reported that they save lives and reduce injuries. Despite enjoying years of relatively high rates of seat belt compliance, in 2023 almost 62% of Georgia roadway fatalities were either unbelted or unknown. And in Georgia and the nation as a whole, seatbelt use has declined since 2021.

Still, most of us do buckle up and expect our loved ones to do the same. How do we reach the risk-takers on our roads? It starts with your own sphere of influence: Here is what you can do to decrease your risk and strengthen a culture of safety in your community.

1. Model the behavior you want to see in your children. As soon as their car seat is forward-facing, they are watching and learning.
2. Make a family rule that the vehicle does not start until everyone is buckled up. Make this non-negotiable.
3. Model the correct way to wear your seatbelt on every trip.
4. Understand that backseat passengers who do not wear their seatbelts are a liability for everyone else in the vehicle. Unrestrained passengers can become projectiles and injure belted passengers in the event of a crash.
5. Pay close attention to your car seats. Do not switch your child to a forward-facing position or a booster until absolutely necessary based on height and weight. The longer your child can be rear-facing and in a harness, the more protection they have.
6. Do not let your children sit in the front seat. Their smaller frames are much safer in the backseat.
7. Refuse to drive unless all of your passengers are restrained — this includes sticky situations with coworkers, bosses, and other people’s children.
8. Maintain these norms even if you are just going around the corner on a short drive.
9. Talk about the importance of seat belts with your kids and why you expect them to buckle up every time. The same principle applies to wearing a helmet and other expected safety behaviors. If you insist your kids wear a helmet but don’t model the behavior yourself, the lesson is lost.  

In Georgia in 2021, 701 lives were saved thanks to proper restraint use for passengers ages five and above (Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety 2021 Risky Driving Quick Facts). Working together, we can all make the roads safer for everyone.

EMMA HARRINGTON is the director of injury prevention and education services at Shepherd Center. Previously, Emma started the injury prevention program at Grady Memorial Hospital in the Trauma Department. She holds a master of education degree in international education policy from Harvard University. Originally from Boston, Emma is a licensed social studies teacher.

During my childhood, wearing a helmet to ski was decidedly uncool. Perhaps more telling of that era was the idea that skiing in jeans was very cool.

Out of the 10 million or so people who ski and snowboard in the United States, 600,000 injuries occur annually. Of those, head trauma accounts for 20 percent and is the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in these winter sports. (Haider 2012)

Thankfully, in the past few years, helmet use in winter sports has become the norm with an almost 70 percent compliance rate – almost triple the number in 2003. (McMillan 2013) The rate of helmet compliance is encouraging, but it has brought to light some troubling statistics. Despite the number of people wearing helmets, the number of skiers and snowboarders sustaining brain injuries or fatalities has seen no reduction. Worse, studies have claimed that head injuries have actually increased.

According to a Western Michigan University School of Medicine’s 2012 study, head injuries have increased by 60 percent in seven years. The University of Washington furthered those results in its 2013 study, showing a 250 percent increase in snow-sports-related head injuries among youths and adolescents.

Experts have debated several theories that may explain the simultaneous rise in helmet use and head injuries. Perhaps the most convincing argument relates to risk-taking behavior. It is telling to examine who is getting hurt: 70 percent of snow-sport fatalities involve males in their late teens to early 30s. (McMillan 2013) As snow sport technology has yielded better, faster skis and snowboards, a push for more extreme sporting has followed. Resorts have opened more dangerous trails and are accused of propagating the risk-taking skier/boarder mentality with sponsorships and promotions of ever-more dangerous flips and tricks.

Often, people are surprised to learn that brain injuries can occur even when wearing a helmet. That leads researchers to believe there is a false sense of security that is leading to an increase in risk-taking behaviors.

Snow sports are a fun and great way to spend a winter afternoon, but like any sport, these activities come with some risk involved. Arm yourself with these tips (and helmets) to prevent a brain or spinal cord injury. Knowledge that leads to better decision-making is the key to prevention.

There are several, other smaller safety precautions that everyone should consider before hitting the slopes.

1. Stay at your level. Trails are always marked with a green circle, blue square, or black diamond. Staying in control of your skis or snowboard is key to preventing injury.
2. Constantly scan. Watch out for those who are going too fast, and/or have lost control and get out of their way fast.
3. When going down a mountain, if you have to stop for any reason, move to the side of the trail. This prevents collisions with other skiers or boarders.
4. Take a break when tired, and skip the last run of the day. Injuries happen when you are tired and not paying full attention to your surroundings.
5. Skiing off-piste exposes you to hidden rocks, ledges, and avalanches, and is not worth the risk. Trees are not your friend when skiing, sledding, or boarding.
6. When sledding or tubing, always go down feet first. Breaking a leg is far better than hitting your head.
7. Wear your helmet. Even when sledding. Keep your head warm and avoid concussions and more serious brain injuries.

For more information on Shepherd Center's Injury Prevention Program, click here.

Sources
Haider, Adil H. "Helmets Save Lives of Skiiers and Snowboarders." Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2012.
Mayo Clinic. 2015. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/spinal-cord-injury/basics/causes/con-20023837
McMillan, Kelley. "Ski Helmet Use Isn't Reducing Brain Injuries." The New York Times, Dec. 31, 2013.

EMMA HARRINGTON is the director of injury prevention and education services at Shepherd Center. Previously, Emma started the injury prevention program at Grady Memorial Hospital in the Trauma Department. She holds a master of education degree in international education policy from Harvard University. Originally from Boston, Emma is a licensed social studies teacher.

Summer brings lots of fun and outdoor activities, but it is also a season that often yields a spike in brain and spinal cord injuries. To avoid these injuries, please follow these safety tips.

1. Always enter the water feet first. This includes all bodies of water – oceans, lakes, ponds, waterslides, mud holes, pools, etc. Both brain and spinal cord injuries can and do occur due to diving.
    
2. Designate a “water watcher” – someone constantly watching swimming children and adults from the shore to avoid drownings and brain injury.
    
3. Boating laws have changed in Georgia, and you are now liable for a BUI (boating under the influence) if consuming alcohol while boating. Alcohol, sun exposure and operating machinery are a dangerous combination.
    
4. Make sure all children wear an appropriately sized life jacket at all times while participating in all water sports, or on a boat. Avoid swimming in heavily trafficked areas where boats are likely to pass.
    
5. While trampolines should be used with extreme caution, if at all, reduce your likelihood of injury by maintaining a high-walled enclosure and padded edges. Only allow children to jump one at a time and under constant supervision. Somersaults and flips are not worth the potential for spinal cord injuries.
    
6. Always wear your helmet, making sure it fits snuggly and you can tilt your head back and forth without any movement from the helmet. The straps should form a “Y” around your ear for a snug fit. Helmets reduce your likelihood of traumatic brain injury (TBI) by 85 percent, according to the CDC. While helmets reduce the likelihood of a TBI, they are not a failsafe. Always exercise caution and obey traffic laws while riding a bike. Helmets should be replaced if they have sustained a significant hit.
    
7. Graduated teen licensing laws have been proven to reduce the number of teen fatalities and injuries by allowing teens to practice their skills gradually in low-risk settings. Teens are most at risk during their first year of driving. Driving at night and having multiple passengers increases that already substantially high risk. Please adhere to the law and guidelines to help protect your child.
    
8. As always, put away all distractions while driving. Though talking on the phone while driving using both handheld and hands-free sets is still legal in Georgia for adults, the risk is not worth it. Hands-free devices do not reduce the risk of accidents while driving because talking on the phone still can cause cognitive distraction leading to inattention blindness (not seeing a stop sign or other car, for example), according to the National Safety Council.
    
9. ATVs are not safe for anyone under 16 and should only be used by single riders. Make sure to complete a safety course before riding an ATV that is properly sized for the individual rider.
    
10. If you have a pool in your backyard, make sure it is fenced in and locked when there is no adult supervision. Remove all diving boards from personal pools.

For more information on Shepherd Center's Injury Prevention Program, click here.

EMMA HARRINGTON is the director of injury prevention and education services at Shepherd Center. Previously, Emma started the injury prevention program at Grady Memorial Hospital in the Trauma Department. She holds a master of education degree in international education policy from Harvard University. Originally from Boston, Emma is a licensed social studies teacher.

When former Olympic swimmer Amy Van Dyken injured her spinal cord in summer 2014, she brought national attention to an often under-recognized hazard. Van Dyken was riding her all- terrain vehicle (ATV) in a parking lot when she hit a curb and flew over an embankment. She was found conscious, but struggling to breathe and unable to feel her legs. On this particular ride, she was not wearing her helmet or protective riding gear.

Van Dyken’s story is not uncommon. In 2014, ATV accidents caused an estimated 674 deaths. Too often, it takes a high-profile catastrophic injury to call attention to a longstanding hazard.

Introduced in the 1980s, ATVs are a relatively new commodity originally designed for agricultural settings. Having morphed into outdoor recreational vehicles, it is not surprising that the majority of ATV deaths and injuries still occur in rural areas.

ATVs have a high center of gravity and unstable design, so much so that the majority of injuries are caused by rollovers. The sheer weight of these vehicles, which can be up to 600 pounds, combined with their propensity to flip, make them dangerous to an untrained rider. Four wheels do not ensure stability, nor do they always deliver on that perceived sense of safety. This false sense of security can lead to devastating brain and spinal cord injuries.

Males are at a much higher risk for ATV-related injuries than females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Children are also more vulnerable, despite being a small fraction of licensed ATV drivers. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, in 2015, there were an estimated 97,200 ATV-related, emergency department-treated injuries in the United States. An estimated 28 percent of these involved children younger than 16 years of age.

When it comes to ATVs, legislation and education are lacking. The most progressive states sanction youth aged 16 and above to drive ATVs once they have taken a safety class and received a special license. In Georgia, our law only states that ATVs cannot be driven on public beaches. The issue of public versus private domains becomes pertinent when helmets are only mandated on public land. It is then up to the discretion of the rider or parent as to whether helmets are mandatory.

Van Dyken’s injury has been repeatedly referred to as an accident, but when injuries are preventable, is that the correct term? Taking risks is part of living, and while we ought to live without fear of catastrophic consequence, we must arm ourselves with education (and helmets) and aim to minimize our risk. Knowledge that leads to better decision-making is the key to prevention. In terms of ATVs, let’s spread the knowledge and use an old motorcycle adage:  All the gear, all the time.

Here are a few more safety tips:

• Before riding, attend a local ATV driver’s safety course.
• Children under 16 should not drive ATVs.
• ATVs are intended for single riders and should only have one person on them at a time.  
• Wear an approved helmet with an eye shield every time; there is no ride so short that a helmet is unnecessary.
• Wear non-skid, close-toed shoes.
• Avoid colliding with other vehicles by staying off of paved roads at all times.

For more information on Shepherd Center's Injury Prevention Program, visit www.shepherd.org/resources/injuryprevention.

EMMA HARRINGTON is the director of injury prevention and education services at Shepherd Center. Previously, Emma started the injury prevention program at Grady Memorial Hospital in the Trauma Department. She holds a master of education degree in international education policy from Harvard University. Originally from Boston, Emma is a licensed social studies teacher.

Works Cited

ATVSafety.org

BrainandSpinalCord.org (accessed 7/28/14).

Center, ATV Safety Information. Consummer Product Safety Commission. http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/ATV-Safety-Information-Center/ (accessed 2014).

Garland, Sarah. 2011 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2013.

Hanseen, James, and Douglas Shinkle. Transportation Review All-Terrain Vehicle Safety. Denver, Colorado: National Conference of State Legislatures, 2013.

Top 10 Holiday Driving Safety Tips (Download PDF by clicking here.)

1. Distracted driving is even more pronounced during the holidays because of increased travel and busy schedules. When you get behind the wheel, make driving your priority. Avoid using cell phones, adjusting the radio or changing CDs, reading maps, and eating and drinking while driving.
    
2. Stay alert, keeping your eyes focused on searching and scanning the driving environment. Drive defensively. Wear your seat belt and always expect the unexpected.
    
3. With additional holiday activities and increased stress, changes in sleep schedules and shorter days, drivers are vulnerable to drowsiness. Fight fatigue by getting enough rest, allowing extra travel time, taking frequent breaks, sharing the driving, asking passengers to stay alert and limiting driving to times to when you are normally awake. Drowsy driving impairs judgment, slows reaction time and increases stopping distance.
    
4. With all the holiday festivities, impaired driving occurs more frequently, and police increase the number of checkpoints and patrols. Use good judgment and drink responsibly. If traveling by car, always have a designated driver. Even small amounts of alcohol can impair your driving ability. Be extra cautious on the road at night and report any driver you believe to be driving impaired.
    
5. Winter weather can bring rain, snow, sleet and ice. Check the forecast and road reports in advance of traveling and make contingency plans for bad weather, even for short trips. Increase your following distance an extra 2 seconds for poor weather conditions. If you break down or are caught in bad weather, look for shelter and wait out the storm instead of trying to drive through it. Avoid sitting in a running car to keep warm because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
    
6. Keep your vehicle well maintained, including tires that are properly pressurized and road worthy. Carry an emergency kit that includes flashlights, blankets and jumper cables. Communicate your travel plans to another person and advise them of any changes.
    
7. With increased traffic during the holidays, there is also an increase in commercial vehicles on the road. When driving near large trucks, do not linger in the danger zones behind, in front and to the sides of these vehicles because it is difficult for the truck driver to see you.
    
8. When shopping, be sure to park in an appropriate-sized spot. Position the vehicle in the center of the parking space to keep your vehicle free from scratches and dings. Pull through the space, if possible, to avoid having to back up. Watch out for small children who may have strayed from their parents. Return shopping carts to stores or corrals to avoid obstruction for other drivers.
    
9. Crime increases during the holidays. To increase safety, park in well-lit areas close to the business you will be visiting. Place any valuables and packages in the trunk or out of sight. When you leave your vehicle, double check that it is locked and have your keys out and ready upon returning. Be alert. If something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and avoid the situation.
    
10. Holidays often mean spending more time behind the wheel. Consider postponing driving instruction for new drivers until the stresses of the season have subsided. Limit a newly licensed driver’s travels, especially at night.

Compiled by Dan Allison, Occupational/Driving Therapist, Shepherd Center; Adapted from the National Safety Commission

1. When using portable or ladder stands, ensure the stand is securely fastened to the tree before climbing.
    
2. When hunting off of the ground, always wear an anti-fall, full-body harness system at all times. Ideally, this harness should have a descender attached.
    
3. Always use a haul line to pull your gear, including your UNLOADED firearm or bow, into the tree stand. Never climb with anything in your hands or on your back. You should use this haul line to lower equipment to the ground after your hunt is finished.
    
4. Avoid taking medications that may cause drowsiness before hunting. Never hunt while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 
    
5. Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Be cognizant of the firearm’s muzzle at all times.
    
6. Clearly identify the target and what is in front of and behind it.
    
7. Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.
    
8. Dress properly and be prepared for the worst possible weather conditions. Being cold or wet can increase the likelihood of a fall or accident.
    
9. Have in place a rescue plan, including the use of a cell phone or signal device. Ensure that your cell phone has coverage in the area where you will be hunting.
    
10. Put hunting plans in writing, or text/email them to a friend or family member. Include dates, times, location and expected time of return. Also, in a spot that is visible from the outside of your vehicle, leave a printed copy of your hunting plans.

Download these tips by clicking here to get a PDF file you can print and share with friends.

Michael Ronkin, a nationally recognized expert on pedestrian and bicycling issues, led the workshop. Among the participants were representatives from the Georgia Department of Transportation, the city of Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Brookwood Alliance and the hospitals.

“Shepherd Center and Piedmont Hospital hope the area of Peachtree Road adjacent to the hospitals can be improved to make it a safer and more pleasant walking experience for patients, employees and members of the community,” said Bridget Metzger, Shepherd Center’s director of injury prevention. “That was the goal of this workshop. Michael Ronkin did a fantastic job in leading the group, and we were thrilled to have attendees from so many vitally important local groups.”

Ronkin led participants in discussions about:

• Planning factors that impact walkability
• Street-crossings principles
• Street-crossings countermeasures
• Intersection geometry
• Signalized intersections
• Transit design
• Impact of street width reduction

Participants also created a case study and brainstormed solutions. The case study was a tour of the area of Peachtree Road around Shepherd Center and Piedmont Hospital from Brookwood Valley Circle (just past Shepherd Center to the north) south to Collier Road. A group of participants toured the area on the lookout for street design and signaling issues that could be improved for pedestrians, including wheelchair users, and cyclists. Afterward, the group used aerial maps to illustrate potential solutions for problem areas. Group members plan to follow up with the appropriate agencies in hopes of implementing solutions, Metzger said.

A report from the meeting will be published at a later date on shepherd.org/injuryprevention.

For more information on Shepherd Center’s Injury Prevention and Education Program, contact injury prevention director Bridget Metzger at 404-350-7559 or bridget_metzger@shepherd.org.

Leading the new program is Ginger Martin, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, CCM, a long-time member of Shepherd Center’s former Marcus Community Bridge Program, which ended in 2012. The Transition Support Program emphasizes patients’ medical, health and safety issues following discharge.

“A major objective of the program is to prevent rehospitalization, which is emphasized in the federal Affordable Care Act, and to keep our patients healthy and safe at home,” Martin said. The new program is being funded through Shepherd Center operational dollars.

Martin and her staff are seeking grants to expand program services in the future. Also, the program will benefit from recent funding Shepherd Center received from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for the project “A Patient-Centered Approach to Successful Community Transition After Catastrophic Injury.” This project is evaluating the impact of several systems changes aimed at minimizing hospital readmissions and focuses on revising Shepherd Center’s discharge planning and post-discharge supports for patients and families. 

Giving it an edge already, the Transition Support Program is staffed with employees experienced in meeting the needs of Shepherd’s patients as they return to their homes and communities, Martin said.

Transition support coordinators accomplish the program’s mission through a combination of phone calls, tele-health sessions and home visits with patients. They work with patients and their families to develop person-centered plans to manage disability and medical issues. Topics they address include medication management, safety and fall prevention, physician follow-up appointments, health record management, and schedule and routine management.

This part of the program serves people referred by their Shepherd Center treatment team and deemed at high risk for rehospitalization and/or those who face socioeconomic challenges and/or limited family support.

Meanwhile, the Transition Support Program’s peer support staff members are reaching out to Shepherd Center inpatients. They are increasing peer mentoring and education for inpatients on both a one-on-one and classroom basis. Classes focus on topics including self-advocacy and disability management. Peer supporters will soon launch a Facebook page to give former patients with spinal cord injury a forum to offer insight to one another.

Also, the program’s vocational services staff is helping patients who are referred by their treatment team because of their plans to return to work or post-secondary education.

The Transition Support Program, which is overseen by Sarah Morrison, vice president of clinical services, is working with departments throughout the hospital to accomplish its mission. Already, staff members have collaborated with spinal cord and brain injury educators and public relations staffers to develop training and educational videos for use with inpatients, as well as patients who have discharged from the hospital. This information is housed on a new educational website at MyShepherdConnection.org, which launched in spring 2013.