Increasing Adolescent ATV Safety Knowledge Through an In-Classroom Educational Intervention

Safety Tips for ATV Riders (STARs)

Gerene Denning, PhD Kristel Wetjen, RNCharles Jennissen, MD Pamela HoogerwerfKarisa Harland, PhD Jeffrey Peck

ATV Deaths And Injuries:

ATV crashes disproportionately affect the young:

• 1 in 4 deaths and 1 in 3 injuries involve children and teens.

Children and teens account for the majority of passenger deaths and injuries.

Children are at Increased Risk

ATV crashes kill more children each year than bicycle crashes.

Objective of Study

Develop, Implement, and Assess A School-Based ATV Safety Program

Targeted to Adolescents

How do we get from here…

…to here?

? ? ? ? ? ?

School-based format

Target age range of 12-15 years old

Interactive and engaging

Partner ATV safety experts and injury prevention experts

Do evaluative research

STARs ATV Safety Program

Program DesignRecruit schools and schedule times:Invitation letters to principalsPersonal contactsSchool Nurse’s Conferences

10 Isolated Rural (1,227)

3 Rural (754)5 Urban (1,204)

Day of school visitWelcomePre-program survey (Turning Point™)40 min programPost-program survey (Turning Point™)

1-year follow-up (9 schools)Written follow-up survey

Pre-surveyTurning Point™ Age

Gender

ATV use and frequency

Riding and safety practices

• Riding with passengers

• Riding on public roads

• Helmet use

Whether experienced a crash

3 knowledge questions

Safety Tips for ATV Riders (STARs) Always wear your helmet

One person at a time

Ride the right size machine

Always wear your protective gear

Never ride on the road

Take a safety course

Tell someone where you are going

Respect private property

Never use alcohol or drugs

Always obey the rules

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

ATV Tilt Table

JeffreyPeck

Post-surveyTurning Point™

3 knowledge questions

Likelihood of using the knowledge gained

1-Year Written Follow-up Survey

Age

Gender

Riding and safety practices

• Riding with passengers

• Riding on public roads

• Helmet use

Experienced a crash

3 knowledge questions

Results

Both Rural And Urban Youth Were Represented In The Study.

18 schools in Eastern and Central Iowa (3,185 students).

Rurality is based on zip codes and the Rural Urban Commuting Codes (RUCA)

Males and females were equally represented.

74% were in our original target age range of 12-15 years old.

38%

24%

39%

17%

53%

21%

10%

Baseline knowledge was relatively low.

Most ATVs are made to carry how many people? Correct answer = 1

According to Iowa law, when can someone ride an ATV on a public road?Correct answer = For farming purposes

According to guidelines, what is the largest ATV engine size recommended for use by 12-15 year olds?Correct answer = 90 cc

54%26%

44%

The program improved short-term knowledge.

54%

26%

44%

92%

81%

77%

Most ATVs are made to carry how many people?

What is the largest ATV engine size recommended for use by 12-15 year olds?

According to Iowa law, when can someone ride an ATV on a public road?

Increased knowledge was partially retained.

Values represent only students for whom short- and long-term follow-up data were available (9 of 18 original schools, N = 1046).

Question BaselineSame Day Follow-up

Long-term Follow-up

Most ATVs are made to carry how many people?

53% 93% 78%

According to guidelines, what is the largest ATV engine size recommended for use by 12-15 year olds?

26% 79% 44%

According to Iowa law, when can someone ride an ATV on a public road? 47% 79% 58%

Some improvement in reported behavior was observed.

Variable Program Day 1 Year

Riding with Passengers

95% *82%

Riding on the roads 81% *54%

Never/Almost never wear a helmet

76% 60%

N = 1,046 students; *p<0.001

Program DayUse knowledge

%

Likely/Very Likely 47%

Undecided 20%

Not Likely/Unlikely 33%

Conclusions

Over 3,000 students received training.

Short-term knowledge was increased.

Long-term knowledge was partially

retained.

Some improvement in safety behaviors

was observed.

Unsafe behaviors remain unacceptably

high.

Future Directions Develop, implement, and assess a multi-state school-

based ATV safety intervention.

Develop and make accessible toolkits for teaching ATV safety for teachers, scout leaders, 4-H, FFA, and healthcare provider.

Deaths and Injuries from ATV Crashes are Preventable!

To prevent deaths and injuries and their accompanying financial costs, we need:

• EDUCATION and Public Awareness

• ENGINEERING Safer Vehicles

• ENFORCEMENT of Evidence-Based Public Health and Safety Laws

It takes all stakeholders working together.

Why We Do What We Do

5 of 8 Iowa children killed by ATVs in 2011

When we have the power to save lives and health, we have the responsibility to do so.