Injury prevention employees work hard across Georgia to keep Georgians safe from injury in their homes, work places and in their cars. On May 30, the excellent work of some public health employees from around the state were recognized by the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute (GTIPT) and the Governor's Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) at their 2012 "Buckle Up" Awards ceremony in Macon.  

The Buckle Up, America! Awards recognize individuals, agencies, community and civic groups who work to reduce injuries and prevent fatalities in Georgia through involvement with traffic safety, seat belt  and child safety seat awareness initiatives.

"The 2012 Awards Ceremony was designed to publicly thank traffic safety advocates for all that they have done to support traffic safety initiatives," said Frankie Jones, the institute's director. "These award winners focus on seat belts, child passenger safety and teen driving programs in the local community and across the State of Georgia," she said. Jones presented the awards with representatives from GOHS.

Public health award recipients were:
 
To be considered for an award, a nomination was made with supportive documentation that identified impact in the following areas: community involvement, injury prevention activities, advocacy, leadership and merit.

This year's nominees were also recognized for taking an active role in promoting injury prevention in the field of traffic safety, including legislative activities, injury prevention initiatives and through media. Moore congratulated recipients after the ceremony.

"We are extremely proud of the work these professionals and volunteers do to save lives on Georgia's roads and highways," said Spencer Moore, deputy director of GOHS.

-Story by Kimberly Stringer, DPH Communications