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HOME SECURITY CHECKLIST BEFORE YOU TRAVEL (GUEST POST)
Traveling is stressful enough without worrying about a possible break-in while you’re away. Keeping your home safe and secure during your absence is a common worry for many travelers. However, some basic vigilance can help prevent many break-ins. Many breaking-and-entering scenarios are not premeditated, but instead criminals finding opportunities left by homeowners. Criminals will look for things like obviously unoccupied homes, open garages, easy points of entry to a house, and so on. Using caution and planning ahead can help keep you from falling victim to a break-in while you’re away from home.
Here is a basic checklist of things to do (and not to do) before you travel:
- Make sure all doors and windows are locked. Double-check them just to make sure. Doors should be locked and bolted, windows should be closed and latched. Especially look in areas like the basement or attic, which can frequently be forgotten.
- Check all appliances (stoves, water heaters, fans, computers) and turn off anything that doesn’t need to be in use while you’re gone. Unplug the television and the coffee maker.
- Have a neighbor or friend check in frequently while you’re gone, or get someone to house-sit. Give them any emergency numbers or information they might need. Make sure you trust the right person with safeguarding your home while you’re away. Don’t just trust your home safety with anybody; make sure that neighbor is one you know well and have a rapport with.
- Arrange for the care of your pets — have that same friend or neighbor dog- or cat-sit, or board your pets to ensure their needs are met while you’re on vacation. If you have a family dog, their barks can sometimes be a deterrent to criminals, but there is no guarantee of the dog’s safety. Make sure your pets are looked after.
- If you have a security system (or the budget to install one), make sure you understand its use and capabilities. Inform the alarm company before you leave of your travel plans, and instruct anyone who will be stopping by to visit or house-sit on how to use the alarm system.
- Avoid leaving any emails, voice mails, Facebook posts, or other messages announcing your upcoming absence. You never know who might get those messages. Do inform the people who should be informed, but be careful about giving out this information.
- Cancel or suspend your mail or newspaper service while you’re away, or have someone pick up your mail and newspaper, so it doesn’t pile up around the house.
- Leave some lights on around the house, so your home isn’t dark, unlit, and obviously unoccupied. If you can, buy and install some timers for your lights, and program them to turn off and on at random intervals.
- Pre-pay any bills that might come due while you’re gone, not only to avoid any unpleasant shut-offs or nasty surprises when you get home, but so you don’t undermine other security efforts (like leaving your lights on).
- Store away any loose yard and household items, like hoses, grills, lawn ornaments, etc. If you have any vehicles that will be left behind, park them safely in the garage.
- Stow any irreplaceable valuables in a locked, hidden safe, or take them out of the house to a safety deposit box.
If you are truly concerned about home safety and the possibility of a break-in, install bars or grills on your windows, and document your valuable possessions in case something does happen while you’re gone.
Even if you can’t afford an alarm system, creating a “lived-in” atmosphere with light and sound, and having trusted neighbors or friends watch your house while you’re away, are all good ways to ensure your home remains safe and secure for your return.
Sidney writes with Design55. She frequently travels, meaning she has become somewhat of an expert at securing her home.
SEVEN COMMON FORMS OF CHILDHOOD BULLYING (GUEST POST)
As the importance of preventing bullying and teaching kids to deal with torment from their peers is emphasized more and more in the media, it becomes apparent that today’s bullying bears little resemblance to the taunting and teasing that most parents were subjected to during their own childhood years. The modern bully wears many faces, and has an unprecedented level of access to the lives of those they hurt. Here are seven forms of bullying that today’s children are exposed to on a regular basis.
- Cyber-Bullying – Bullies are able to take their insults, threats and hurtful words to a very public and thoroughly humiliating new level through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Status updates make it easy for an entire social group to view and even comment on cruelty, while more personal threats can be sent through private messaging. Blogging platforms can also be used to mount full-scale smear campaigns, making it almost impossible for victims to face their peers.
- “Frenemies” – While the word “frenemy,” a portmanteau of the words “friend” and “enemy,” can be traced back to a 1953 Nevada State Journal article, the concept is intimately familiar to modern tweens and teens. Girls in particular have started to accept backhanded compliments and blatant rivalry as traits of their associates. When more assertive girls use the force of their personality and the threat of revoked social standing to coerce other members of their peer group into doing or saying things against their will, it is absolutely a form of bullying and should be treated as such.
- Bullying By Authority Figures – Typically, bullying is considered to fall in the realm of children and their peer group. As a result, taunts, insults and derogatory comments made by mean-spirited teachers or overzealous athletic coaches typically go unchallenged. Taught to obey authority figures, meek and mild-mannered children may never report this behavior for fear of retribution or punishment.
- Physical Harassment – There’s nothing new about physical bullying; stronger kids have been known to lord their prowess over smaller peers since the beginning of time. Tougher punishments and penalties have simply forced these bullies to get more creative when doling out their abuse, rather than curtailing it.
- Exclusion and Ostracism – Teachers and counselors with good intentions can make every effort to stamp out physical and verbal harassment, but their hands are tied when it comes to exclusion. Children and adolescents simply can’t be forced to associate with someone they’ve deemed an outcast, and this ostracism can be more painful for the victims than physical punches and kicks.
- Verbal Harassment – Name-calling, teasing and making fun of a child’s appearance, wardrobe or any other area of perceived inferiority might have crept over into social media and text message wars, but that hasn’t diminished its face-to-face value. Though the old adage about sticks and stones makes for a catchy rhyme, it does little to comfort youngsters that are mercilessly taunted for one “failing” or another.
- Blackmail – When every tween and teen carries a phone that doubles as a camera, snapping photos that double as blackmail material is the work of a moment. The release, or even the mere threat of release, of an embarrassing picture can send kids into a panic; kids who willfully inflict this torment on a peer are a new breed of bully.
Shame and fear of revenge can keep children from telling even a trusted adult about what they’re suffering through, leaving them feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of shouldering the burden alone. Because children are so often reluctant to discuss bullying, parents and caregivers should be on the lookout for signs of depression, isolation and agitation, which can be indicators of emotional turmoil and distress.
Sent to us by Roxanne Porter, of NannyJobs.org
There is nothing more hurtful than knowing that your child is the victim of bullies, regardless of how it is done. Parents of bullies should start at home, letting their youngsters know that this is not allowed. Teachers should do something about it when they witness this kind of behavior at school. Young bullies can become mean adults who make life miserable for everyone they encounter. If they are the cowardly type that hides behind a computer, their true character comes out. We live in a time when the results of bullying can cause terrible things to happen to the victims. Let’s please all find ways to get it under control – in your town, community, school, and at home. If you see it happening, step up and say something. Students are finding that if they all stick together, the bully will back down. Support someone who needs your help. Pat
Exercises You Can Do From Home (Guest Post)
In our hectic lifestyle, we generally don’t get enough time to do exercises at the regular interval. So for this reason, sometimes we face difficulty in keeping our body and mind fresh and active. But if we think deeply, then we can still manage our time to do exercises during our stay at our home as well. For this matter, you will need a little bit of imagination. Rather if you do your exercises along with your daily home chores, then you can keep yourself fit and active despite your fast lifestyle.
Walking
It is one of the best free hand exercises for you at your home. The reason is that you have to walk around for your daily household jobs from one corner of your house to the other corner of the your home. It is a kind of physical exercise without any fitness equipment. Moreover, through walking, your whole body will get active and fresh, so you will feel healthy and comfortable.
Jogging
Actually jogging means walking at a slower pace or leisurely way. So you can do it when you are hearing the music or you are viewing the the blockbuster movies at your home. It is a very good exercise for you at home. If you are fighting with obesity, then jogging will help you much in this matter. It will also help you to control the cardiovascular problem in your body. Moreover, jogging will increase your lifespan and control your aging problem.
Dancing
It is a unique solution for free hand exercise. Moreover, your body will synchronize with your dancing rhythm. Dancing will help you to shed a lot of calories from your body and it will also keep you fit as well. Even, if you are a music lover, then you can learn the dancing style by playing the dancing video clips or from any dance master as well.
Jumping
You can do jumping practices at your home. Particularly, you can do it from any suitable height in your home compound. Rather, you can try it at your backward area where you will get a lot of opportunities for it. Jumping is very much good for cardiovascular problem. But you have to do it after with the consultation of a doctor. The reason is that if you are an older person, then you should do it carefully abiding all health rules.
Weight lifting
It is a good exercise at your home. Actually, you can do it within your house parameter without ignoring its norms. You sometimes can carry a bucket of water from one room to the other room in your home. If you do it at the regular interval, then your body will be fit and comfortable.
So, you can do exercises from your home without any fitness equipment but you should do it with your imagination. Because, you can do exercise more various types than the aforementioned ways in your home if you need more. One interesting point to observe that you will not require spending any money for keeping your body fit and healthy.
About The Author:
Margaret is a writer/ blogger. She contributes to Marnie Bennett. Check Here for more on Marnie Bennett.
What Makes Flame Resistant Clothing Flame Resistant? (Guest Post)
Another great article sent to us by Maree Kyle.
For anyone who works closely with high temperatures and/or open flames, flame-resistant materials are an essential accessory. While these materials aren’t fireproof, they can offer just enough resistance to help you escape danger before a crisis breaks out. Flame-resistant materials can also slow the progress of an expanding fire, creating a larger window to combat the flames and subdue the fire before it gets out of hand. Not all flame-resistant materials are created equal. Understand what options are available to you and how they might affect what you are hoping to achieve by wearing protective clothing. Here’s a quick guide to how flame-resistant products are made and what you need to consider before investing in these materials.
Understanding the definition of flame-resistant
If you throw a flame-resistant shirt into a fire, it will burn. That’s because the materials aren’t immune to combustion; they’ve just been created to withstand heat for a period of time. If kept in contact with the heat source, though, they eventually will ignite. Even though flame-resistant gear, including shoe covers, coveralls and face shields, doesn’t provide an invincible barrier for its wearer, the protection is crucial in a number of industries, including welding and electrical work. Forgoing its use is both unwise and against safety regulations set forth by an employee’s company.
The materials used
Some types of fabric are naturally more resistant to combustion than others. Wool, for example, takes longer to ignite than many other fabrics. Generally speaking, synthetic materials take longer to burn than other natural fabrics. In the case of wool, tighter and heavier wool knits will be more fire resistant than loose, lightweight wool. No matter what type of material used, flame resistance can be enhanced by applying a chemical treatment that adds a layer of coating to the fabric fibers. In fact, most good flame-resistant products feature this chemical coating.
Maintaining materials to preserve their efficacy
One key to preserving the flame-resistance of protective clothing is washing the products according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Certain soaps, fabric softeners and other cleaning methods can remove the chemical coating on the materials or otherwise reduce the flame resistance of the product. In some cases, cleaning products could leave a residue that serves as a fuel for combustion when exposed to a heat source. Find out the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning and follow those guidelines exactly to avoid ruining the fabric.
Regardless of how you plan to use flame-resistant materials, make sure you’re very careful in your handling of them to prolong their lifespan. If you’re counting on these materials to protect you in the event of an emergency, don’t take any chances. Observe safety precautions posted around your workplace, be very diligent in your care of the garments and their accessories and always be sure to invest in high-quality materials.
Cold Weather Disaster Prep (Guest Post)
Ideas to keep you and your family safe this year
By Patricia Shuler
Major storms come every year, and particularly during this season, severe storms cause all kinds of havoc. Keeping your family safe is your number one priority, so it’s important to be informed not only on what severe weather is common to your area and where you might be traveling, but what you can do about it as well. Take a couple of minutes and read this list to ensure you’re ready for whatever might happen this winter season.
1. Know Terminology
You also need to be aware of what specific weather warnings are likely to occur in your area. For example, make sure you know the difference between a Winter Storm Watch and a Winter Storm Warning, and how to prepare appropriately for Wind Chill versus Freezing Rain or Sleet. Once you know what each means, make a plan for each contingency, and be sure your family knows what to do in each case.
2. Winterize Your Home
This is a step that should have been completed during the middle and latter end of the fall months, but it’s not too late to start now. Winterizing allows you to keep your home heated more effectively during severe weather, particularly if there is a power loss and you can only keep the heat you’ve got. Also make sure you’ve insulated your pipes should the weather drop well below freezing, and that you’ve also done a good job at insulating your walls, basement, and attic. You should have your HVAC system inspected by a professional annually, to ensure it’s working at its most efficient, and so to prevent failures that can be expensive and inconvenient at best, and dangerous at worst.
3. Power Outages
Power outages are some of the most common effects of weather disasters around the country, so make sure you’re ready. Keep flashlights and spare batteries where you can find them in the dark. Also, keep a stash of candles, matches, lamps, etc. somewhere easily accessible. The power might be out for days, so invest in portable power solutions to keep phones and other necessary electronics charged.
You might not think of your laptop or smartphone as a survival tool, but they can be invaluable sources of information when the power goes out. Older computers will not run for long, and can actually be damaged by the low output of hand-crank generators; but high-quality ultrabooks or tablet can charge on 20 watts or less, meaning you use less fuel (or elbow grease).
4. Emergency Kits
This is really one of the easiest things you can get ready in case of a weather emergency. FEMA has put together a great list on what to put into your kits. This should include enough water for every member of your family for at least 3 days, blankets, a firstaid kit, canned food and can opener, and other tools. You should also include medicines your family might need, particularly prescriptions you might not be able to fill if a disaster occurs. Most of these things you already have or have access to, so start compiling your emergency kit immediately.
5. Travel Safely
This is the time of year when people are on the road the most, traveling to see family and friends for the holidays, and it comes during the most hazardous weather season. Make sure before you leave you have a good plan in case of severe weather or accidents. If it looks like the weather will be adverse, you really should just not travel. If the weather forecast is good, you should still prepare in case of an emergency. Keep a car emergency kit with you at all times. This includes water and blankets, but also tools, maps, jumper cables and road flares for road-specific hazards. If you’re planning on counting on your GPS, don’t, as bad weather often causes signal loss, so make sure you have appropriate maps for where you’ll be traveling. Get a car charger for your phone as well so you’ll have the ability to keep it charged should you become stranded for an extended period of time.
Patricia Shuler is a BBGeeks.com staff writer from Oakland, California. She’s an admitted tech-junkie who’s quick to share her honest opinion on all things consumer electronic—including up-to-date news, user reviews, and “no holds barred” opinions on a variety of social media, tech, computer, and mobile accessories topics.
HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN SEARCHING ONLINE FOR A NANNY/CAREGIVER JOB
Online nanny job sites have become a popular way for nannies to find jobs and for parents to find nannies. While most of the people on those job sites are legitimately searching for an employment arrangement, there’s always the chance, no matter how slight, that a predator has slipped through the cracks and found his way into the family pool. You can protect yourself from these people by taking the following simple precautionary steps during your next nanny job search.
Be cautious of a parent who insists on gaining personal information early in the process. There’s no reason a family needs your address, birthdate, Social Security Number or any other sensitive information before they hire you or present you with a written job offer contingent on a background check. If a parent is pushing you to share personal information that isn’t relative to evaluating you as a nanny, think carefully before moving forward.
Initiate the first phone call and block your phone number when calling parents. When it’s time for the first phone interview, ask the parent for his number and block your number before making the call. At some point, it will be necessary for the parent to have your phone number. However in the beginning, you can arrange a time to chat so you can protect your privacy until you’ve had a chance to talk with the parent and make an initial assessment.
Verify a parent’s employment before meeting with him. One of the simplest ways to verify a parent is who he claims to be is through his employer. If the parent is a lawyer, doctor, banker or other professional it’s a pretty easy process. Rather than simply asking for his direct cell phone number, look up his company’s phone number online and contact him through the main switchboard. Spend some time on the website reading his professional profile and viewing company photos he’s featured in. Confirming his employment doesn’t confirm he’s a safe person, but it does confirm he’s being honest about his name, profession, title and who he works for.
Meet at a public location for the first interview. The first time you meet a family, pick a public place that’s located in a populated, busy area. A favorite coffee shop or deli can offer comfortable seating, enough space for private conversations, and an informal setting that puts everyone at ease.
Make sure you tell a friend where you’re going and who you’re meeting. Even though you’re meeting in a public place, make sure to tell a good friend where you’re going, when you expect to return and who you’ll be meeting. Leave the family’s contact information with her and any details they’ve given you about their family. Check in with her when the interview is over to let her know everything went as planned.
Buy your own beverages or make sure you get it directly from the counter person. It’s hard to imagine that someone would slip a drug into your coffee or juice, but it can happen. A spiked drink won’t make you immediately pass out. It will make you disorientated, confused and easier to control. This allows your attacker to move you from the public meeting place to his car or another vehicle. An easy solution is to arrive a little early and get settled in with your favorite drink.
Openly talk about the safety precautions you’re taking. Predators are online looking for an easy way to find and lure in their next victim. By being aware of the possible risks of online sites and staying proactive throughout your job search, you’re putting predators on notice that you’re doing everything possible to keep yourself safe.
Follow your instincts. If a person or situation doesn’t feel right, listen to your instincts. Don’t worry about hurting the person’s feelings or losing the job opportunity. Your personal safely should always be your number one priority. If a parent is asking you to do something you’re uncomfortable with, politely yet firmly say no.
Report any suspicious behavior. Although you can’t file a complaint with an online job site based on a feeling alone, you can report any parent that acts inappropriately or asks you to do something that puts you in an unsafe situation. Keep the language of your report as objective as possible, focus on the parent’s behavior not your feelings about him, and include as many details as you have. Your action could save another nanny from danger.
Online job sites are a legitimate avenue for searching for a nanny position. Rarely is there a case of a predicator posing as a parent and victimizing a nanny. However, this is a case of it’s better to be safe than sorry. By taking a few simple precautions, you can take advantage of all a nanny job site offers and stay safe throughout the job search process.
This post gives insight into the ways a prospective nannie/caregiver can protect themselves while in the process of seeking good employment with responsible parents.
SENIOR SECURITY: SAFE AT HOME (GUEST POST)
By Maddy Olsen.
Whether you are enjoying your golden years or a family member of a senior, there are things to look out for to increase their safety. Even if you live in a retirement community, some of these will still apply. Seniors tend to be the target of scam artists and hoodlums. They will case a home before they strike and sometimes it doesn’t end well. Being well protected will ease everyone’s mind.
- Windows
Having double paned windows are great for energy efficiency, but they also have very secure locks on them. However, in the event that one is left unlocked, another safety measure should be taken just to ensure complete home security. It is as simple as having wooden dowels cut to fit in the tracks of all the windows in the house, even the bathroom. Home improvement stores generally carry these and will cut them for you if you ask.
- Doors
Traditionally, we just lock our front door and rely on us not losing the keys to get us back in. Now, there is a way to unlock the door using the cell phone. The app is easy to navigate and requires an electronic device be put on the deadbolt area of the door. It can be easily installed with a screwdriver and is accessible from anywhere in the world, on most accounts. They can also be programmed to work with multiple phones, so family can unlock it in case of emergency or if the parents ever get locked out.
- Garage Doors
Any outside entrance to the home is a concern. Garage doors are one of those safety issues that should be addressed. But it is only a garage door, you say? Well, that is true, but it is one of the biggest threats to home security. Having a newer model of garage door opener will reduce the risk of anyone being able to copy the code used to open the door. However, carry the opener in your purse or invest in a keychain opener. If anyone were to get into the car, they would take the opener to be able to get inside the home. When going on a trip, use padlocks to secure the door by the handles near the ground. But even more importantly, always lock the door that leads from your garage into the house. If possible, install a deadbolt to reinforce the door and make it that much harder to get in.
- Smoke Alarms
This doesn’t deter thieves, but it is a very important part of safety and feeling secure in your home. Fires kill more than 4,000 people every year. That is not including those that die from complications due to the fire. That’s a lot of casualties that might have been prevented. Change the batteries in all smoke detectors each month. Just testing the alarms may not ensure that the batteries will work when there is a need for them to. New fresh batteries will keep them in tip top shape all the time. Practice an escape plan so if there were a fire in the home, the residents will know what to do based on the circumstances.
Security of the home is so very important and so many of us pay little attention to it. If there are any concerns, address them sooner than later. Ask for help if you need it, but don’t be the victim of a terrible event because your locks and codes are subpar. Your personal safety should be a priority.
Maddy Olsen blogs on a variety of subjects that are deep topics and can change lives. Writing for Brookdale http://www.brookdaleliving.com/ assisted living is a very rewarding passion she enjoys. Several losses in her family to Alzheimer’s Disease has prompted her write about the topics she has researched or practiced.
NOVEMBER NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES
November has whizzed by pretty fast, but it is never too late to share with you all the diseases awarenesses and health observances for the month. Chances are you know somone or have a family member that may need to know about these resources. It is our intent to not only promote safety issues to our readers, but health facts, as well. Please read and find out more about where you can go to search for particular health problems that are observed this month in the United States.
American Diabetes Month – American Diabetes Association – 1-800-342-2383
COPD Awareness Month – American Lung Association – Diabetic Eye Disease Month – Prevent Blindness America – 800-548-8252
Lung Cancer Awareness Month – Lung Cancer Alliance – 202-463-2080
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month – Alzheimer’s Association – 800-272-3900
National Family Caregivers Month – National Family Caregivers Association – 800-896-3650
National Healthy Skin Month – American Academy of Dermatology – 888-462-3376
National Hospice Palliative Care Month – National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization – 800-646-6460
National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month – No Stomach for Cancer, Inc. – 608-335-0241
< International Survivors of Suicide Day* - Nov 17 - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention -212-363-3500 Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week - Nov. 18 - 24 International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders -
MADD’S ‘TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY’ 2012
MADD’s “Tie One On For Safety” Holiday Campaign Cautions Drivers as More Highway Deaths Caused by Drunk Driving
Thanksgiving was the Deadliest Thursday of 2010; Puts Spotlight on “Blackout Wednesday” —
Press Release: PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — As we kick off the holidays with Thanksgiving, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is reminding adults to plan ahead for a safe way home if they’re planning to drink alcohol during the season’s festivities. Data show that the time period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day includes some of the most dangerous days for drunk driving deaths, and the numbers are getting worse in recent years — as annual drunk driving deaths have decreased, there has been an increase in the proportion of drunk driving deaths around the holidays. In addition, there’s a troubling trend of drunk driving fatalities in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving Thursday, following what’s becoming known as “Blackout Wednesday,” a time when people who are home for the holiday are choosing to celebrate with excessive amounts of alcohol.
The proportion of people killed in drunk driving crashes (.08 BAC and above) over the Thanksgiving holiday spiked by 30 percent in 2010 compared to the rest of the year. Additionally, the number of drunk driving deaths increased by 24 percent compared with the year prior. Below are further details about fatalities over the holiday in recent years:
Thanksgiving Holiday (includes “Blackout Wednesday” and the weekend following Thanksgiving)
- 2010*: 174 people killed (40 percent of highway deaths)
- 2009: 140 people killed (34 percent of highway deaths)
- 2008: 180 people killed (35 percent of highway deaths)
“These numbers are very concerning to MADD because the number of people killed in drunk driving crashes over Thanksgiving is up, along with the percentage of highway deaths caused by drunk driving during the holiday period,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “Drunk driving is a complex problem, but the solution is simple: plan ahead for a sober designated driver if you’re going to drink alcohol.”
MADD’s Tie One On For Safety red ribbon campaign, now in its 26th year, is the organization’s signature public awareness project and is sponsored by National Presenting Sponsor Nationwide Insurance. Drivers across the country display MADD red ribbons on their vehicles as a pledge to drive safe and sober. The ribbons also signify support for law enforcement officers, who will be out in force as part of the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.
“During a time of year when some may choose to ‘tie one on’ in celebration of the holidays, MADD and Nationwide encourage drivers to Tie One On For Safety by displaying a red ribbon as a visible reminder to keep our roads safe,” said Bill Windsor, Nationwide Insurance Associate Vice President of Consumer Safety. “It’s about setting an example for your friends and family, co-workers and neighbors — if you drink, don’t drive.”
It’s not just the Thanksgiving holiday that can be dangerous. On average in 2010, 31 percent of highway fatalities were caused by drunk driving. However, this number spikes dramatically over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays too:
Christmas Holiday (includes Christmas Eve and the surrounding holiday weekend)
- 2010: 96 people killed (37 percent of highway deaths)
- 2009: 95 people killed (36 percent of highway deaths)
- 2008: 138 people killed (32 percent of highway deaths)
New Year’s Holiday (includes the holiday weekend surrounding New Year’s Eve)
- 2010: 143 people killed (48 percent of highway deaths)
- 2009: 185 people killed (40 percent of highway deaths)
- 2008: 175 people killed (41 percent of highway deaths)
New Year’s Day, as well, is especially dangerous, with 57 percent of all traffic fatalities involving a drunk driver in 2010.
If you don’t have a MADD red ribbon, put any type of red ribbon on your car in order to show your support for this serious campaign. Read the statistics and don’t become one. Enjoy your holiday season safely.
Source: PR Newswire/US Newswire