Forum Attracting Medical Professionals From Around the Globe Will Focus on Prevention of and Treatments for Whiplash and Neck Injuries
DENVER--Sept. 24, 2003--| "Save Your Neck" Whiplash Prevention Clinic and Public Awareness Campaign to Also Take Place in Denver Following Congress Event Consumers Can Learn How to Properly Use Car Headrests and Prevent Whiplash |
The Journal of Whiplash and Related Disorders, the first journal dedicated to auto accident-related trauma, in conjunction with The Spinal Injury Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy for those with chronic spinal injuries, will present the 2003 International Whiplash Trauma Congress (IWTC) in Denver on Thursday, October 9, and Friday, October 10, 2003.
The two-day event, which will be held at the Embassy Suites - Downtown Denver, 1881 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80202, 303-297-8888, is an annual gathering of doctors, engineers, therapists and other medical professionals from around the world. During the conference, attendees spanning 13 countries will be exposed to the latest research on the cause of and treatment for whiplash and neck injuries.
Several renowned industry experts will be in attendance and will also present at the Congress, including Brian O'Neill, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and leading spokesperson on automobile safety. Other experts include researchers from Volvo as well as internationally recognized research scientists from all over the world.
Whiplash injuries affect the lives of more than one million people in the U.S. every year. Experts estimate that between 25 - 40 percent of these people will have chronic symptoms. Every 2.5 seconds, a motor vehicle accident occurs across the U.S., totaling more than 12 million reported each year. With incidence levels of whiplash increasing considerably, more than $29 billion is now being spent annually on healthcare and/or litigation related to whiplash injuries.
"The prevalence of whiplash and related neck disorders continues to significantly increase. This year, the IWTC will host 34 speakers from 14 countries and attract several hundred attendees representing many parts of the world. We are pleased that whiplash is a growing, top-of-mind concern among medical professionals internationally and are excited to host the conference here in Denver this year," commented Christopher J. Centeno, M.D., of The Centeno Clinic. Centeno is a leading Westminster, Colo.-based pain management physician. He also is founder and medical director of The Spinal Injury Foundation and co-editor of the Journal of Whiplash and Related Disorders.
Concurrent with the Congress, the Spinal Injury Foundation will host an international public awareness campaign, The 2003 Save Your Neck Program. The Save Your Neck Program is a not-for-profit event designed to educate drivers and passengers of motor vehicles about the importance of correctly positioning car head restraints to prevent whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions. Hundreds of thousands of Americans today suffer from life-changing neck injuries that may have otherwise been prevented. An automobile headrest and seat back are safety systems that can prevent injuries in a rear-end collision. The Save Your Neck Program will demonstrate to drivers how taking a few minutes to adjust their headrests could prevent a lifetime of disability.
On Saturday, October 11, 2003, Denver will host its Save Your Neck event at the Sill-Terhar Volvo Dealership at 150 Alter Street in Broomfield, 303-469-1801 (I-36 and Wadsworth Blvd.) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Members of the public can bring their vehicles to this local car checkpoint and information center where medically trained professionals will show them how to make the correct, safe adjustments. Denver's event comes on the heels of other similar Save Your Neck initiatives. From September 22-28, 2003, Save Your Neck Car Check and Information Centers around the world will also educate the public about the correct position of automobile headrests, including those in Canada, Great Britain and Australia.
Furthermore, many automobile manufacturers have redesigned their seat/head restraints, which work to reduce forces between the head, neck and torso during an accident. Studies conducted in 2002 by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety revealed a significant decrease in neck injury claims rates since the introduction of redesigned seats and head restraints in some new automobile models versus older designs. For example, in Volvo S70s alone, neck injury claims have dropped 49 percent in vehicles with the new seat/head restraint design. Other manufacturers are slowly making similar changes. In fact, from the thousands of new car models introduced per year, only nine have made the switch.
"In addition to hosting the Congress, as part of our commitment to preventing whiplash and related neck injuries, the Save Your Neck Program will demonstrate to drivers throughout Denver the importance of properly using their automobile's headrest. Most people do not concern themselves with a vehicle's head restraint system when making an automobile purchase, yet the likelihood of them experiencing a life-changing neck injury in an accident is nearly three times that of a fatal accident or one requiring extensive hospitalization, according to studies performed by the Department of Transportation. Automobile redesigns and restraint considerations, coupled with public awareness and minor safety adjustments, can make a dramatic difference in the prevention of whiplash and a variety of neck injuries," concluded Centeno.
The IWTC is held in various parts of the world annually to provide global medical professionals a necessary platform to address concerns of and evaluate changes in whiplash and neck injuries.
The Westminster, Colo.-based Spinal Injury Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the research, education and advocacy for people with chronic spinal injuries.
Plans call for The Save Your Neck Program to be an ongoing, international campaign dedicated to public awareness and safety in the area of whiplash and neck injuries.