Purnima Unni Archives
Injury prevention experts highlight ABCs of water safety as summer begins
May. 23, 2022—Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the start of summer. It is also when experts see an uptick in drowning and near drowning incidents. “Drowning is a silent killer,” said Purnima Unni, MPH, program manager, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
ATV crashes are fourth leading cause of trauma admission at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
May. 19, 2022— by Jessica Pasley Brayden Mahar, 12, has been riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) since he was 5 years old. It is not an unusual sight for him to ride around his Manchester, Tennessee, neighborhood that dead ends into cul-de-sacs. One thing is certain — he always wears a helmet. Heath Mahar, Brayden’s father, knows...
Distracted Driving Awareness Month: injury prevention experts warn of hazards for teens
Apr. 13, 2022—April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the message is clear — keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. “Motor vehicle crashes are the second leading cause of trauma admission to our hospital,” said Purnima Unni, MPH, CHES, Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program Manager at Children’s Hospital.
Increase in ATV injuries prompts additional funding to support safety program at Children’s Hospital
Jan. 3, 2022—According to hospital records, there were 100 ATV-related trauma admissions between July 2020 and August 2021. That is up from 2017 when injuries accounted for 69 admissions and were the fifth leading cause of trauma admissions at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt targets teen driver safety
Dec. 17, 2021— by Jessica Pasley While teen driver fatalities have declined over the years, automobile crashes remain the leading cause of death among teens. Every day in the United States, nine people die from a distracted-driving motor vehicle crash, with six of these deaths being drivers between 16-19 years old. These statistics are part of the...
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt urges caution in toy selection this holiday season
Dec. 13, 2021—Santa is known for making a list and checking it twice, and injury prevention experts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt urge shoppers to follow suit when purchasing gifts this holiday season.
Proper car seat use a life-saving practice
Sep. 21, 2021—safety experts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt offer tips on proper car seat use to help keep children safe.
Safety experts liken helmet use to seat belt-wearing practice
Jun. 7, 2021—Wearing a helmet while riding an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), a bike or a skateboard should be a no-brainer.
Be in the Zone teen driving safety campaign helps raise awareness of dangerous practices
May. 12, 2021—Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is helping promote awareness among teen drivers about the negative consequences of distracted driving and rewarding the hard work of a team of high school students determined to make an impact.
Kohl’s grant supports child passenger safety initiative at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Nov. 16, 2020—Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt will allocate funding from a $120,000 grant from Kohl’s to support the child passenger safety initiative — Kohl’s Stay Seat Smart Program.
Motor vehicle deaths increase despite fewer cars on the road during COVID-19
Oct. 26, 2020—Despite a decrease in the volume of cars on the road during the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that driving patterns and behaviors were riskier, leading to an increase in accident-related fatalities since April 2020.
Children’s Hospital urges caution in toy selection this holiday season
Nov. 21, 2019—As shoppers search for sales this season, injury prevention advocates want to raise awareness about the need to check for safety standards for toys — especially those purchased online.
