By Barbara Gautreaux

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Teenagers are at high risk in Louisiana. Over the last four years more than 700 young adults have died from a motor vehicle crash and nearly half of those deadly crashes involved alcohol.

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This is why the Sudden Impact program was created by the Louisiana State Police Troop I and the LSU Level 1 Trauma Center in New Orleans. To build a relationship between sophomores in high school and the people who live their lives caring for the accident victims.

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Ten thousand teenagers, students in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and more in St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Parishes, have attended a Sudden Impact program. In March, Women & Children’s Hospital in Lafayette brought this teen injury prevention program to the Acadiana Region. “Women’s & Children’s Hospital is proud to be the first in the region to work in conjunction with LSP Troop I and LSU Level 1 Trauma Center to bring this amazing program to Acadiana families,” says Kathy Bobbs, W&CH CEO. 

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Sudden Impact launched locally with students from Ascension Episcopal School in Youngsville. To read about the 3-year commitment to eliminate “distracted driving” pick up the May issue of Acadiana LifeStyle.