A significant number of the meetings I attend each week involve discussion about Golf Car Safety. The VHA provides a free course at least monthly related to how to safely navigate your golf car in The Villages. Attendance records indicate that about ten percent of residents attend.
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is a level 1 Adult trauma center. They receive trauma patients with serious head injuries that have occurred in our community. Our VHA Golf Car Safety team leaders were briefed on the number of patients, causes of injuries, and other details involved at a recent meeting. Trauma-related head injuries were the focus of discussion.
An early unexpected exit from the moving Golf Car is the primary problem. In other words, the patient was thrown out of the Golf Car. Speed, distractions, or OUI were the main cause of the early exit occurring. All were poor decisions. Many could have been prevented.
Prevention of many of the injuries is simple. Buckle a seat belt. I know. I lived in the state whose motto is Live Free or Die. I know. You are only traveling in a low-speed vehicle designed to run at 20 mph or less. The problem is, you are not traveling at 20mph, you are traveling significantly faster. Another problem is you are not buckling your seat belt, if you even have one.
I have a favor to ask. Please slow down and buckle up. Perhaps if you help me out with this request, I can attend a meeting and discuss the future of the Boston Red Sox or New England Patriots instead of Golf Car-related safety issues.
Peter Russell, VHA President
Why Join The VHA?
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Communication
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Education
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Volunteering
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Philanthropy
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