SLEEP AND ADOLESCENT
HEALTH
Thank you for your interest.
Click on the links below to read the materials published by theLeague of Women Voters of New Canaan following two years of
study by committee members. We also invite you to read selected articles published by the national press and the
medical community. We welcome your comments or questions by email at:
sleepstudy@lwvnewcanaan.org.
LEAGUE PUBLICATIONS
"Report on Adolescent Sleep Needs
and School Start Times," June 30, 2006
Selected
portions of the report can also be viewed as individual links:
"Position Statement”
"Report Summary"
"Fact Sheet"
"Study Group History"
(Please note: the report appendices are available in hard copy only, which can be viewed at the
reference desk of the New Canaan Library or at the school administration central office.)
In the spring of 2006, the League presented the findings
of its survey of the public school community at an open forum. The power point presentation is available here;
the full survey results are available at the library and central office, as noted above.
Sleep Survey - Power Point Presentation
MEDIA REPORTS
The subject of adolescent sleep deprivation and school start times has captured increasing public attention.Here
are a few selected articles.
National Sleep Foundation, November 5, 2007
"National Sleep Foundation's Parent/child Contract for Safe Driving"
http://www.drowsydriving.org/atf/cf/{120BADF0-669E-46D0-B46B-768D410B040E}/DDPW_CONTRACT_FINAL.pdf
New York Times, October 2007
"At Every Age, Feeling the Effects of Too Little Sleep"
New York Magazine, October 2007
"Can a Lack of Sleep Set Back Your Child's Cognitive Abilities?"
The Harvard Business Review, 10/06,
"Sleep Deficit: the Performance Killer"
"What's New in Sleep"
Consumer Reports, 4/06,
"Why Teens Fall Asleep in Class"
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health-fitness/health-care/teen-sleep-406/overview/index.htm
MEDICAL COMMUNITY
These
are a few selections from the extensive literature on adolescent sleep needs.
Pediatrics, June 2005, American Academy of Pediatrics’ Technical Report,
"Excessive Sleepiness in Adolescents and Young Adults: Causes, Consequences & Treatments."
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/ pediatrics; 115/6/1774
Pediatrics, June 2005,
“The Impact of School Daily
Schedules on Adolescent Sleep”
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/
115/6/1555maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT= &author1=hansen&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=
1127929655299_11662&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX= 0&sortspec=relevance&volume=115&resourcetype=
1&journalcode=pediatrics
From the American Lung Association, CT
Thoracic Society (the organization which includes sleep specialists). Please copy and paste the following address in your
brower:
http://alact.org/ctssleep.html
National Sleep Foundation - November 5, 2007
The Facts about Safe Driving
For most young drivers, learning to drive and getting a
license is a life-changing experience.
Suddenly, they do not have to find rides, take buses or ride their bike. But
being able to drive
also comes with a great deal of responsibility. All of this takes place at a time when young
people
are experiencing biological changes and greater time demands, leaving little time for
proper sleep and other
healthy habits. Before getting behind the wheel, there are several critical
facts that young drivers should
know.
First, alcohol and driving do not mix. Many teens are involved in crashes caused by alcohol
even though it is illegal for people under the age of 21
to drink. Also, teens who have car
crashes are often repeat offenders when it comes to obeying traffic laws.
According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
28% of the teen drivers involved
in fatal crashes had been drinking or had a prior
moving violation such as speeding
Second,
fatigue can be as deadly as alcohol. Drowsiness impairs
judgment, vision, hand-eye
coordination, and reaction times just like alcohol and drugs. One study found that
after 17 hours
of being awake, a person has the same impairment on performance tests as someone with a
blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. Waking at 6:00 a.m. to catch a school bus creates
the “17 hour
danger” by 11:00 p.m. With accumulated sleep debt, similar fatigue can occur in
less time.
Combining
sleepiness with driver inexperience can be dangerous - more than
half of all fall-asleep crashes involve drivers aged 25
years or younger
Biology, academic pressures, extracurricular activities and early school start times conspire
to
keep teens from their sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2006 Sleep in
America poll, more than
half of teens report feeling sleepy during the day.
Third, distracted driving is unsafe at any speed.
Common factors that increase the risk of
car
crashes include:
• Distractions – eating, putting on make-up, talking on the phone or interacting with
passengers can cause
a crash
• Recklessness
– teens who run stop signs and speed are more likely to crash
• Safety – not wearing a seatbelt increases the risk of dying in a car crash
Fourth,
drowsy driving among teens is common. Teens are among the
most sleep deprived
Americans. According to NSF’s 2006 poll:
More than half of teens (51%)
admit to having driven drowsy in the past year
Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens – 7,460
teen drivers were involved in
fatal crashes in 2005
The privilege of driving comes with
certain responsibilities, and safety-conscious parents must
do all they can to ensure their young drivers stay safe
as they hit the road. That is why NSF
created this safe driver agreement specifically for young drivers and their
parents.
The National Sleep Foundation
Parent/Teen Safe Driving Agreement
Before
getting behind the wheel, the National Sleep Foundation urges new drivers and their
parents to promise themselves
and each other the following:
As a family, we agree that…
• Driving is not a right; it is a privilege
that can be taken away
• Safe driving requires a person's complete attention and focus
• Driver performance is impaired by drugs, alcohol and sleepiness
• Proper sleep is important for
health and safety and we will make it a priority in our lives
• Speeding and other forms of reckless driving are dangerous
• Seatbelts save lives
As
a new driver, I agree to…
• Wear a seatbelt and obey traffic laws at all times
• Not to use a phone while driving and to give driving my full attention
• Never to drive under the influence
of drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Not to ride with someone under the influence of drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Learn about the signs of sleepiness
• Stop driving if I recognize
the signs of sleepiness and find a safe place to nap, call home
to be picked up or make arrangements for alternative transportation
As
parents, we agree to…
• Make sleep a household priority
• Be an example – we will not drive under the influence of sleepiness, drugs
or alcohol or
ride with others who do so
• Be supportive – we will pick up or help find alternative transportation
for a driver
impaired by drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Be a resource – we will review safe driving practices with our teen regularly
This
table outlines driving violations and their consequences for new drivers:
Driving Violation
Consequence
Not wearing a seatbelt Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Using a cell phone
(texting or talking) while driving Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Passenger restriction Lose driving
privileges for ______ days
Nighttime driving curfew Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Driving
under the influence of sleepiness Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Speeding/reckless driving Lose driving
privileges for ______ days
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Lose driving privileges for ______
days
New Driver
I promise to abide by the rules outlined above. If I choose not to follow
these rules, I understand
that I will lose my driving privileges and will need to make other transportation
arrangements.
Signature_______________________________ Date _______________
Parents/Guardian
I promise
to set a good example and help my child to succeed in following these rules and to
become a safe and responsible
driver. I will make myself available to discuss these rules and
driver safety when necessary.
Signature_______________________________
Date ________________
The Facts about Safe Driving
For
most young drivers, learning to drive and getting a license is a life-changing experience.
Suddenly, they do not
have to find rides, take buses or ride their bike. But being able to drive
also comes with a great deal of
responsibility. All of this takes place at a time when young
people are experiencing biological changes and greater time
demands, leaving little time for
proper sleep and other healthy habits. Before getting behind the wheel, there
are several critical
facts that young drivers should know.
First, alcohol and driving do not mix. Many teens are involved in crashes caused by alcohol
even though it is illegal
for people under the age of 21 to drink. Also, teens who have car
crashes are often repeat offenders when it comes to obeying
traffic laws. According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
28% of the teen
drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking or had a prior
moving violation such as speeding
Second,
fatigue can be as deadly as alcohol. Drowsiness impairs
judgment, vision, hand-eye
coordination, and reaction times just like alcohol and drugs. One study found that
after 17 hours
of being awake, a person has the same impairment on performance tests as someone with a
blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05. Waking at 6:00 a.m. to catch a school bus creates
the “17 hour
danger” by 11:00 p.m. With accumulated sleep debt, similar fatigue can occur in
less time.
Combining
sleepiness with driver inexperience can be dangerous - more than
half of all fall-asleep crashes involve drivers aged 25
years or younger
Biology, academic pressures, extracurricular activities and early school start times conspire
to
keep teens from their sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2006 Sleep in
America poll, more than
half of teens report feeling sleepy during the day.
Third, distracted driving is unsafe at any speed.
Common factors that increase the risk of
car
crashes include:
• Distractions – eating, putting on make-up, talking on the phone or interacting with
passengers can cause
a crash
• Recklessness
– teens who run stop signs and speed are more likely to crash
• Safety – not wearing a seatbelt increases the risk of dying in a car crash
Fourth,
drowsy driving among teens is common. Teens are among the
most sleep deprived
Americans. According to NSF’s 2006 poll:
More than half of teens (51%)
admit to having driven drowsy in the past year
Car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens – 7,460
teen drivers were involved in
fatal crashes in 2005
The privilege of driving comes with
certain responsibilities, and safety-conscious parents must
do all they can to ensure their young drivers stay safe
as they hit the road. That is why NSF
created this safe driver agreement specifically for young drivers and their
parents.
The National Sleep Foundation
Parent/Teen Safe Driving Agreement
Before
getting behind the wheel, the National Sleep Foundation urges new drivers and their
parents to promise themselves
and each other the following:
As a family, we agree that…
• Driving is not a right; it is a privilege
that can be taken away
• Safe driving requires a person's complete attention and focus
• Driver performance is impaired by drugs, alcohol and sleepiness
• Proper sleep is important for
health and safety and we will make it a priority in our lives
• Speeding and other forms of reckless driving are dangerous
• Seatbelts save lives
As
a new driver, I agree to…
• Wear a seatbelt and obey traffic laws at all times
• Not to use a phone while driving and to give driving my full attention
• Never to drive under the influence
of drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Not to ride with someone under the influence of drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Learn about the signs of sleepiness
• Stop driving if I recognize
the signs of sleepiness and find a safe place to nap, call home
to be picked up or make arrangements for alternative transportation
As
parents, we agree to…
• Make sleep a household priority
• Be an example – we will not drive under the influence of sleepiness, drugs
or alcohol or
ride with others who do so
• Be supportive – we will pick up or help find alternative transportation
for a driver
impaired by drugs, alcohol or sleepiness
• Be a resource – we will review safe driving practices with our teen regularly
This
table outlines driving violations and their consequences for new drivers:
Driving Violation
Consequence
Not wearing a seatbelt Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Using a cell phone
(texting or talking) while driving Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Passenger restriction Lose driving
privileges for ______ days
Nighttime driving curfew Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Driving
under the influence of sleepiness Lose driving privileges for ______ days
Speeding/reckless driving Lose driving
privileges for ______ days
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Lose driving privileges for ______
days
New Driver
I promise to abide by the rules outlined above. If I choose not to follow
these rules, I understand
that I will lose my driving privileges and will need to make other transportation
arrangements.
Signature_______________________________ Date _______________
Parents/Guardian
I promise
to set a good example and help my child to succeed in following these rules and to
become a safe and responsible
driver. I will make myself available to discuss these rules and
driver safety when necessary.
Signature_______________________________
Date ________________