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Little Rock Family Touched By Tragedy Receives National Heroes Award from Emergency Medical Services for Children

Publication Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009

LITTLE ROCK, AR. (June 11, 2009) – Since Peggy and Wayne Hackett of Little Rock suffered the loss of their 17-year-old daughter Hannah in a car crash in 2006, they have been determined to do everything they can to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedy. Today the national organization Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) is honoring the efforts of the couple and their son Matt with the National Heroes Family Volunteer of the Year Award.

The Hacketts have been outspoken advocates for teen driving safety, including measures that encourage kids and their families to wear safety belts. Hannah always wore her safety belt, but at the time of the crash that took her life, she had unbuckled, possibly to sit closer to her boyfriend, who also died in the wreck.

The Hacketts’ tireless efforts since Hannah’s death have been a guiding force in several policy changes that have revolutionized the way families in Arkansas think about teen driving. The Hacketts testified before the Arkansas General Assembly earlier this year, advocating the passage of legislation for primary seat belt offenses and graduated driver’s licenses (GDL).

At a legislative committee hearing this spring, Peggy Hackett reinforced that had the state passed primary seat belt and stronger GDL laws two years ago, Hannah’s voice could ring strong to endorse the actions, knowing they had saved her life. Instead, Hannah’s voice is limited to a cell phone recording her mother keeps and played for legislators. That moment gave life to a dedicated push for the new legislative package which passed during the last session.

“Hannah’s parents and her brother have turned their grief into strength and determination to increase safety for other teen drivers and their passengers,” said Mary Aitken, MD, director of the Injury Prevention Center (IPC) at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), where she also is a professor of Pediatrics. “Peggy and Matt have used their gifts of communication to work with the Injury Prevention Center to increase awareness on motor vehicle safety for young drivers and their passengers, while Wayne has maintained a quiet resolve to support Peggy and Matt as they give voice to Hannah.”

A public service announcement featuring an impromptu video Hannah recorded of herself singing before her death aired on local channels, reaching teens across the state. The PSA, which received a special judge’s award from the Arkansas ADDY Awards, can be found at http://www.archildrens.org/injury_prevention. Click on “Current Program” and then on the link for “14 years and older.” The video is listed as “Nashville Dream PSA” in the middle of the page.

The Hacketts are on-hand today to receive the award in Alexandria, Virginia. Since 1998, Emergency Medical Services for Children has honored individuals who have displayed a tremendous commitment to children’s emergency health issues with National Hero Awards. The annual honors “reward outstanding achievement in emergency medical services for children and … encourage continued excellence in the field.”

The Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital is the only multi-faceted injury prevention program in Arkansas whose mission is to reduce child injury, death and disability in Arkansas through service, education, innovative research and advocacy. Key areas of focus include teen driving, all-terrain vehicle safety, car passenger seat safety, water safety, home safety, pedestrian safety and bike safety. The center's team of experts works with partners throughout the state to educate families on effective prevention strategies, reinforcing the fact that It Only Takes a Moment - it only takes only a moment to lose your life due to an injury, but it also only takes a moment to practice safety and prevention. For more information on the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children's Hospital, call (501) 364-3400 or visit http://www.archildrens.org/injury_prevention.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving children from birth to age 21. The campus spans 28 city blocks and houses 316 beds, a staff of approximately 500 physicians, 80 residents in pediatrics and pediatric specialties and more than 4,000 employees. The private, nonprofit healthcare facility boasts an internationally renowned reputation for medical breakthroughs and intensive treatments, unique surgical procedures and forward-thinking medical research - all dedicated to fulfilling our mission of enhancing, sustaining and restoring children's health and development. ACH recently ranked No. 76 on FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®. For more information, visit www.archildrens.org.

UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a new 540,000-square-foot hospital, six centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has 2,652 students and 733 medical residents. Its centers of excellence include the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, the Psychiatric Research Institute and the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 10,000 employees, including nearly 1,150 physicians who provide medical care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS’ Area Health Education Centers throughout the state. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com.