BHCC - Botsford Sleep Experts Offer Tips on Safe Labor Day Driving

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MEDIA CONTACT: Nancy Dumas
Margo Gorchow
PHONE: (248) 442-7986

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BOTSFORD SLEEP EXPERTS OFFER TIPS ON SAFE LABOR DAY DRIVING

Farmington, MI., August 21, 2000 - In a 1999 poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 27 percent of people reported that they had, at some time, dozed off while driving, and a whopping 62 percent reported driving while feeling drowsy in the prior year.

Sleep-deprived drivers cause about 100,000 accidents every year, according to the National Highway Safety Administration. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue, irritability and impair memory and motor responses‑‑comparable to the effects of alcohol. That's why experts at Botsford General Hospital's Sleep Therapy Clinic believe getting a good night's sleep may be the most important preparation you make before taking off for a Labor Day vacation.

Bert Rabinowitz, D.O., Medical Director of Botsford General Hospital's Sleep Therapy Clinic, says that people should avoid driving altogether if feeling sleepy. So before packing up the car and taking off for a Labor Day vacation, drivers should use the following tips to ensure a smooth, safe ride.

	Get a full night's rest before heading out by avoiding food, drink, caffeine and nicotine before bed.
	If you've consumed any alcohol or certain medications, like tranquilizers and antidepressants, DON'T drive.
	If you start feeling sleepy or imagining things while driving, pull over and rest or let someone else drive.

People experiencing symptoms such as snoring, morning fatigue, excessive daytime sleepiness and hypertension may suffer from a sleep disorder, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and should seek a professional consultation.

The new Botsford Sleep Therapy Clinic is a comprehensive facility for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of sleep disorders. Overnight sleep studies are performed in the safe and secure environment of the Williams Clinical Building on the Botsford Commons campus in Farmington Hills. For more information call (248) 473-8411.

The Botsford Health Care Continuum is an integrated system of care which includes Botsford General Hospital, the Botsford Physician Network, Community Emergency Medical Service, the Botsford Continuing Care Corporation and the Botsford Center for Health Improvement.

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