I posted a new page called Bicycle Safety with tons of safety tips on riding a bicycle. Please take a moment to read over it as some of the information on the page could possibly save a life of one of your family members or friends.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - 500,000 people report bicycle injuries every year of that 700 of those cyclist die from their injuries. 62% of those deaths resulting from head injuries. In a typical year 15 year olds or younger account for half of the nations fatal bike accidents.
Please share this information with your friends and family so we can make a difference. You can join this site 100% free by clicking the "Join" button on the right hand side of the page.
Last night my family and I went to a local Hockey game here in the Salt Lake Valley. We were having a good time when we seen a family of 5 come and sit in front of us. This family was a Mom and Dad with their 3 maybe 4 year old daughter and the mom and dads friends or family. All of the adults were drinking and we aren't talking about just one drink we are talking 3-4 maybe even 5 drinks during the game and they just kept getting louder and louder. They were very nice people but I couldn't stop thinking about that beautiful little girl that they had with them and how she was going to get home.
Look I don't care what you do in your life if you are going to drink don't drive. You could easily get in a wreck hurting or killing yourself or someone else and nobody deserves to pay so drastically for someone else's stupidity. I try to put this nicely but it is really hard to when everyone knows how wrong it is and yet they still make the CHOICE to do it. This little girl doesn't have the choice on how she is going to get home. There is nothing that I could have done to change whatever happens. I could have told someone but I don't have any proof that they were above the legal limit. I could have followed them out to their vehicle and followed them home but in an area with 10,000 people its hard to keep an eye on your own family let alone someone else's. I have tried to get involved before and it hasn't worked. I wish there was more that I could have done other then saying how wrong it was and getting chewed out and told to mind my own business.
This is not the first time that I have seen this and its extremely sad. I cant believe that some people have the thought that it would be ok to have a few drinks and then drive with their child in the car or not. When you drink and drive it is proven time and time again that you do not have full control of the vehicle. You have a chance of swerving off the road or into oncoming traffic hurting or killing not only you but others as well. There are families all over that loose innocent loved ones that are on their way home from church, stores, family events etc that don't deserve to be hurt or killed and yet they get hit by a drunk driver and now that family has to go through all of the horrible things (for lack of better words) that they shouldn't have to.
So do all of us a favor and if you are going to drink be responsible enough to get a cab or a designated driver. If you cant afford a cab and you cant find a designated driver then you shouldn't be drinking its that simple. Drinking is to be done responsibly and I feel as though a lot of people show how irresponsible they are by drinking and driving. I hope that we can put a stop to all of this as this. We can get drinking and driving fatality rates to a 0% as it is not an accident it is a choice!
The Party Poem (Author Unknown)
I went to a party, Mom,
I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink, Mom,
So I drank soda instead.
I really felt proud inside, Mom,
The way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
Even though the others said I should.
I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
As everyone is driving out of sight.
As I got into my car, Mom,
I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
So responsible and sweet.
I started to drive away, Mom,
But as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom,
And hit me like a load.
As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
"The other guy is drunk," Mom,
And now I'm the one who will pay.
I'm lying here dying, Mom...
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.
There is blood all around me, Mom,
And most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom,
I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.
He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank
And I will die.
Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
And I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
And all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave.
Someone should have told him, Mom,
Not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you,
you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom.
Before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
So why am I the one to die?
Please don't drink and drive!!!
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I have already talked about this a bit on the Street Smarts Page but we had an accident not to far down the road from me that made me want to talk about it again today. This is a very important issue as I see more and more children getting hit that don't need to be. I know that no matter what there is that chance due to accidents like accidentally running a red light or someone not paying attention or the occasional (non accident) drunk driver. But a lot of these children are getting hit in the middle of the road with NO crosswalk, NO light and in the dark. We can prevent a lot of these from happening. I am going to share a true story that just happened last night (1-28-2012).
Last night in Millcreek Utah not far from where I live a 13 year old girl was hit by a police officer while she tried to cross the road. This accident happened at around 9:20 pm and involved a member of our Unified Police Officers and the Teenage girl. According to a local news station the girl was walking in a neighborhood that was poorly lit when she tried to cross the road were her Dad was waiting for her she was struck by the officer causing serious injuries to the teenager. The girl was not in a crosswalk and the officer did not see the girl until it was to late according to the Unified Police Department.
The girl was transported to a nearby Hospital with serious injuries. Specific injuries were not immediately released but police say that they do not believe that they are life threatening. The Salt Lake Police Department is investigating the accident.
We can only hope that this has a good ending and that this child recovers fully from her injuries. I will be pulling for her and her family in this horrible time as I am sure you will as well. I think we have a lot to learn from this story and we can take the "It will never happen to my child" out of our minds now when it can happen to this child in front of her Dad that was right there waiting for her and hit by a police officer non the less.... This can happen to anyone young or old. We should all be paying attention whether it be driving or walking and we should follow the rules when crossing the street. Here is a news clip about the accident and below that I will cover some of the Street Safety tips!
Crossing Safely
If you are going to be out after dark (or even dusk) wear light colored clothing.
Young kids are better when traveling with others not only for crossing safety but also for stranger danger. You can find more information on the Stranger Danger Page.
Try to stay in WELL lit areas even if in your own neighborhood. Again this is not just for vehicles but also for Stranger Danger.
Cross only at Cross Walks, Sky Walks and/or an appropriate light
Only cross after you have done your checks and that should be Stop, Look and Listen
Double Check
If anything is blocking your view (bush, car, boat etc.) make sure you have a clear look around it before crossing.
If you are crossing at a light and the traffic is stopped and it is your turn, make sure you have eye to eye contact with the drivers so you know that they are aware you are there before moving out in front of them. It is awfully easy for a child to be unseen after moving in front of a larger vehicle.
Always use the Orange/Red flags if available.
Don't just walk out in a crosswalk just cause you have the right of way, ensure that they are aware of you and that the drivers come to a stop before crossing.
NEVER cross without a crosswalk or a light even if it means going down the street another block or so it just isn't worth it.
Walk don't run to cross the street you are less likely to trip and cross safely.
Walk don't ride your bike across the street.
If we follow these rules we can prevent a lot of these accidents from happening. We should start teaching our children the importance of Street Safety and Stranger Danger from the time they start walking and talking in my opinion, It is ultimately up to you. I think we all need to have these talks all the time with our children. Practice these with your children, I do it with my nieces and nephews where we will go out to lunch and while I hold their hand and we get ready to cross the parking lot I do the stop, look and listen. We need to practice this all the time even if it is safe and we know it. If we do it every time we cross the street it will become the norm for them as well.
I truly hope that this helps someone somewhere. I would appreciate your feedback, stories, suggestions or if you want me to cover anything just let me know by commenting below. Please share this with your friends and family..
