The Miami-Dade School Board unanimously approved two agenda items proposed by chair Perla Tabares Hantman endorsing October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) and National Teen Driver Safety Week on October 20-26.
There were an estimated 230,480 new cases of breast cancer among U.S. women in 2011. Among these, 15,330, were Florida women alone, of which 2,690 would succumb to the disease. Florida ranks second in the nation for breast cancer deaths.
"October is dedicated to highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment of breast cancer to improve survival rates," said Hantman.
To help raise awareness, information will be made available to employees through the Districts Employee Wellness Program. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 11 percent of all drivers involved in fatal car crashes in the U.S. were between the ages of 15 to 20. Some of the common risk factors faulted were nighttime driving, text messaging while driving, alcohol-impaired driving, and driving with multiple passengers in the vehicle.
"I am proud to bring forward an initiative that encourages teenagers to change risky driving behaviors at the high school age level and help save lives across the country," said Hantman.