IMA Safety Information Seminar supported by Semperit

IMWA Safety Information Seminar supported by Semperit: How automotive technology is helping to reduce crash injuries Beaumont Hospital -- Tuesday Evening, March 14, 2006

Pictured at the announcement of the IMWA seminar are l/r: Padraic Deane, Chairman of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, Adian Gleeson, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Paddy Murphy, General Sales Manager, Semperit Ireland and Tony Neville, PR Manager, Saab Ireland

Upwards of 10,000 people are injured in road accidents on Irish roads every year. Technological advances in the design and construction of cars in recent years have lead to a reduction in the number of serious injuries that occur following an accident.
To examine the impact of these improvements in automotive technologies on accident-related injuries, the Irish Motoring Writers' Association (IMWA), supported by tyre company Semperit Ireland, is organising an important information seminar. The seminar, which is being co-hosted by Beaumont Hospital Emergency Department - one of the leading centres for trauma medicine in Ireland - will take place on Tuesday evening March 14 at the hospital.

The keynote speakers at the event will be
* Dr. Per Ortenwall, Chief of Trauma Surgery at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg. Dr. Ortenwall is a world renowned expert in this field and this is his first visit to Ireland. Dr. Ortenwall will draw on his considerable experience of working with Saab safety engineers in Sweden.
* Ms Patricia Houlihan, Consultant in Beaumont Hospital's Emergency Department, who will speak about the hospital's experience of the epidemeology of road traffic accidents based on prospective audit.

IMWA Chairman, Padraic Deane commented: "Road deaths make the headlines and this is appropriate, as pressure brought to bear by the general public on the powers that be is really the only weapon that effects change. Amidst people's anger and frustration, as well as often disjointed media coverage, we can lose sight of the thousands of motorists, passengers and pedestrians that are injured and maimed on our roads each year.

Our inaugural safety information seminar exposes the heartbreaking reality of this subject and points to many of the automotive technologies that are being introduced to reduce the high levels of injuries associated with road accidents. Attendees at the event will include health professionals, government officials, motor industry representatives and a broad range of other people representing sectors that want to see a major reduction in the road carnage that ruins lives year after year. The venue is most appropriate and I assure you that you will learn a great deal from our speakers. I would ask you to please pencil this important date in your diary."