Bryn Mawr Hospital Gets $45k For Mock Crash Demonstrations

BRYN MAWR, PA -- Main Line Health is the recipient of a $45,000 grant from State Farm Insurance Company to support the Systemwide expansion of its mock crash and Cruisin Smart demonstration programs, they announced in a press release.

Strath Haven High School kicked off the safe driving season Wednesday, March 30 with the first Cruisin Smart® mock crash of 2016, through the State Farm grant.

For nearly 10 years, Main Line Health and State Farm have proudly partnered to present mock crash and Cruisin Smart demonstrations at local high schools in an effort to raise awareness of the hazards of impaired and distracted driving, the release states.

Previous grants have supported funding for Paoli, Riddle and Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospitals, but this year’s grant will allow the program to expand Systemwide to Lankenau Medical Center and Bryn Mawr Hospital, as well.

The State Farm grant allows Main Line Health to offer Cruisin Smart® and mock crash demonstrations at nine area high schools in Delaware, Montgomery and Chester counties to raise the awareness among student audiences of the life threatening dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Demonstrations are scheduled to take place at the following schools:

• April 7 – Villa Maria High School with juniors and seniors from Devon Prep
• April 13 – Downingtown East High School
• April 27 – Penncrest High School
• May 11 – Ridley High School
• May 25 – Garnet Valley High School
• June 1 – Henderson High School

Each demonstration includes a mock crash scene. As part of the grant, Bryn Mawr Rehab’s Cruisin Smart® speakers will also travel to 11 area schools to fully engage students in smart driving presentations, emphasizing what the results may be if they do not make a smart choice.

“With prom and graduation season swiftly approaching, we are proud to use this grant to educate young drivers in our region about the extreme danger of distracted and impaired driving,” saidDonna Phillips, President, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. “This grant will help deliver an impactful experience that we hope will encourage healthy habits and decision making for teen drivers, ultimately preventing avoidable tragedies from taking place.”

Each mock crash offers students a first-hand perspective of a car crash, caused by an impaired and distracted student driver. Actors, emergency medical services, police and fire companies bring the scene to life for students with crashed cars, stretchers, equipment and the Jaws of Life to convey to young drivers and passengers that driving distracted or impaired can lead to negative outcomes.

“State Farm is proud to partner with Main Line Health in promoting safe driving by exemplifying the consequences of unsafe driving practices,” said Dwayne Redd, Community Field Specialist, State Farm. “It is preventative programs such as these that help to make the roads of the Delaware Valley a safer place to drive.”

The partnership between State Farm and Main Line Health extends back to 2007, when the first mock crash demonstration was presented by Riddle Hospital. Since then, the grant was expanded to include Paoli Hospital in 2010, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in 2014 and this year was extended to the entire Main Line Health System.