David Sleet facts for kids

David A. Sleet is an American scientist famous for his work in making the world a safer place. He used behavioral science, which is the study of why people do what they do, to help prevent accidents and injuries. Thanks to his efforts, keeping people safe from accidental harm is now a major goal for health experts around the globe.

Dr. Sleet has shared his knowledge in hundreds of articles and book chapters. He also helped edit important books about preventing injuries and promoting health.

A Career in Keeping People Safe

For many years, Dr. Sleet worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC is a top U.S. agency that works to protect the nation's health. There, he was a science leader in the department that studies how to prevent accidental injuries. At the same time, he was also a professor at Emory University.

Before his time at the CDC, Dr. Sleet taught at San Diego State University and studied car crashes at a research center in Australia. He also worked as a special scientist for the U.S. government and in Finland, sharing his expertise on road safety.

Making Roads Safer for Everyone

One of Dr. Sleet's most important achievements was helping to make driving safer in the United States. He was part of a team that studied how to reduce car crashes caused by impaired drivers. Their research showed that lowering the legal limit for a driver's blood alcohol content (BAC) would save lives. The BAC level measures substances in the body that can make it unsafe to drive.

Because of his team's findings, the U.S. government passed a law encouraging all states to adopt a stricter BAC limit of 0.08 percent. By 2004, every state had made this the new law. This created a new national standard for safety on the road.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Sleet has received many awards for his important work in public health. These honors show how much his contributions are valued.

Some of his awards include:

• The Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award for his work in health.
• The Derryberry Award for his ideas and theories that help health professionals.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary’s Award for his excellent service.
• A special medal from the King of Cambodia for his service to the people of that country.
• A lifetime achievement award from the CDC for his career in behavioral science.

Sharing His Knowledge

Dr. Sleet has also helped guide many scientific journals. These are special magazines where scientists publish their latest research. By serving on their review boards, he helped ensure that new information about health, safety, and human behavior was accurate and useful. This work helped other scientists and health experts around the world learn from his experience.