Statewide survey shows a 1.5 percent increase

Results of a recent statewide survey reveal that Missouri drivers and passengers are buckling up more in 2016, but still have much room to improve.

Based on 123,678 observations of Missouri drivers and passengers in this year's statewide survey, the safety belt use rate is 81.4 percent, up 1.5 percent from 2015. This is still far behind the national average, which was 88.5 percent in 2015.

Safety belt usage ranged from a low of 63 percent in Jackson County to a high of 95 percent in Montgomery County. The survey also indicated that females tend to buckle up more than males with 85 and 78.6 percent respectively. Pickup truck drivers are only 69.7 percent likely to buckle up, while drivers of sport utility vehicles buckle up at 86.7 percent.

"It's vital that the driver and all passengers are buckled up every trip, every one, every time, day and night," said Bill Whitfield, chair of the executive committee for the coalition. "Ninety-four percent of the time driver error is responsible for a crash, and your safety belt is your best defense if a crash occurs."

Modern vehicles are safer than they have ever been. Integrated safety systems such as airbags and crumple zones have drastically increased chances of crash survival. However, all of these safety improvements are designed with the assumption that the occupants of a vehicle are properly restrained with a safety belt. Not wearing a safety belt severely undermines a vehicle's ability to keep its passengers safe in a crash.

As of Sept. 29, 669 people have died in Missouri traffic crashes this year, an 8% increase over this time last year. Of those deaths, 439 were vehicle occupants who had a seat belt available, but 60 percent chose not to wear a safety belt and were killed. Many of these people might be alive today if they had simply buckled up.

For more information on highway safety, visit saveMOlives.com. You can also follow Save MO Lives on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

Malden, Missouri - Devin Busby of Byrum, Culp, Davis & Dell Insurance Agency in Malden, MO recently completed insurance training and received continuing education credits awarded by the Missouri Depart of Insurance.

The annual regional meeting, hosted by Barton Mutual Insurance, brought together independent agents for instruction in sales, product offerings and industry endeavors.

Barton Mutual is a property and casualty insurer that writes approximately $25 million in premium in Homeowner, Farmowner, Commercial, Rental and Vacant Dwelling lines of insurance throughout Missouri through approximately 250 independent agencies. The Company was established in 1894 and continues to operate from Main Street in Liberal, MO.

Devin said, “Give me call or shoot me a text anytime. I'd be more than happy to help you anyway I can. It doesn't cost you a thing to check with me.  My cell is (573) 421-5630 and my e-mail is dbusby@bcddagency.com. I truly appreciate your business!”

National VFW Day is observed annually on September 29th, honoring the men and women devoted to this valuable organization and those members who have served our nation. 

Members of the VFW today hold a long-standing history of volunteerism in their communities. Not only have they served their country, but they continue to serve their fellow veterans, families, and communities by sponsoring scholarships, career fairs, mental wellness campaigns, and so many more excellent services.

VFW membership since its inception has been instrumental in the establishment of the Veterans Administration, the creation of the national cemetery system and passage of the GI Bill. Through the VFW, veterans honor veterans and serve their communities.  On National VFW Day, take a moment to recognize all the VFW does in your community.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Honor the VFW members and veterans in your community. Let them know that you appreciate the sacrifices they have made for all of us. We truly are the land of the free because of the brave. Use #NationalVFWDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

The VFW was established on September 29, 1899, by a group of veterans from the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. It has since grown to be the nation’s largest group of combat veterans. They continue “to honor the dead by helping the living.” The VFW promote patriotism, good will and youth scholarships. They also provide military assistance and community service programs, promote youth activities and volunteer many hours in their local communities.

The Dexter VFW will have a meeting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 29th.  Meal precedes at 6:00 p.m.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Once a hunter has bagged a deer, the work is only half over. How to field dress it, skin it, process the meat and store it for future tasty meals are skills hunters need to know. The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center’s Field to Freezer program, Saturday, Oct. 8, from 10 a.m. to noon will help hunters learn how to process their own deer.

Attendees will learn how to field dress and properly care for their harvested deer and how to process the venison for freezer storage at this free program. Regulations and supplies needed for processing deer meat will also be discussed.

Pre-registration is required because space is limited. This program is for ages 16 and up. To register, call the nature center at (573)290-5218.

Information about deer and deer hunting in Missouri can be found at mdc.mo.gov/hunting. Information about this and other nature programs at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center can be found at mdc.mo.gov/CapeNatureCenter.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - Saint Francis Healthcare System is pleased to welcome pain management specialist and new Saint Francis Medical Partner Robert Bowers, MD. He joins two other pain management specialists at the Pain Management Center.

Dr. Bowers earned his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Cincinnati, Ohio, and later completed an anesthesiology residency and a pain management fellowship at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. His primary clinical interests include chronic pain and interventional procedures, including low back and neck pain and Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS).
 
“Dr. Bowers comes to Saint Francis with a wealth of advanced pain management expertise,” says Steven C. Bjelich, FACHE-D, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Francis Healthcare System. “His knowledge will prove to be incredibly beneficial to residents in the region who need the latest pain management tools.”

To learn more about Dr. Bowers or the Pain Management Center, visit sfmc.net or call 573-331-3996.

Saint Francis Medical Center is a 289-bed facility serving more than 713,000 people throughout Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Arkansas. Guided by its mission to provide a ministry of healing and wellness inspired by its Christian philosophy and values, the Medical Center has become a progressive, innovative regional tertiary care referral center. Saint Francis’ major service lines, which have received national recognition, include the Neurosciences Institute; Orthopedic Institute; Family BirthPlace, featuring the region’s first Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Heart Hospital; Emergency and Level III Trauma Center; Cancer Institute; and Fitness Plus.