AUTO SAFETY

PRACTICE DEFENSIVE DRIVING

• Recognize hazards: Scan the road ahead and behind checking your mirror every 3 to 5 seconds.
• Drive defensely: Continuously scan the road for possible hazards. Play the "what if" game by thinking "what if" the driver in front of me stops suddenly? "What if" someone runs a red light at the next intersection? "What if" that driver in the oncoming lane...
• Stop in time: Think ahead, try to anticipate what other drivers around you might do, avoid hazardous or dangerous situations before it's too late.

• Help avoid collisions through vehicle maintenance.
  

FOUR STEPS TO SAFE DRIVING:

1. Know the rules for intersections and know which way you plan on going before you arrive at the intersection.

1. Show your intentions with signals and proper lane position before entering it.
2. Slow down as you approach the intersection, have your foot over the break.
3. Go only after you've checked to make sure the coast is clear. Don't assume that the other driver knows what to do at the intersection or that the driver will follow the rules.
   

THE TWO SECOND RULE

Follow the Two Second Rule. Watch the vehicle ahead of you pass a fixed object or point, like a pole or mile marker. Begin counting: "One thousand and one, one thousand and two." If your car reaches that marker before you finish counting you are following too closely. Ease up and check again.

In adverse conditions, use The Two Second Plus Rule: add one second following distance for each adverse condition. Adverse conditions include:

• Driving at night, in fog, rain or snow.
• Driving behind a truck or vehicle making it difficult for you to see ahead.
• Driving behind a motor cycle.
• Driving through an intersection.
  

WHAT DO YOU DO AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

TIPS FOR TRUCKS

If you can't see a truck driver in the truck's side mirror, then that driver can't see you or your car -- you're in the vehicle's blind spot and should pull out of it as soon as it is possible and safe.

KNOW THE FOUR R’s
Head-on collisions are the most violent type of auto accident. Know the four Rs:

• Read the road ahead.
• Reduce your speed.
• Drive to the Right.
• Ride off the road if necessary.

Drunk drivers are the most dangerous violators of traffic safety, contribute to almost half of all highway deaths. After midnight, one out of every ten highway drivers is impaired. It's worse during holidays.

Look for these warning signs to spot a drunk driver:

• Unusually wide turns
• Straddling the center land or lane marker
• Weaving or swerving
• Sudden stops
• Tailgating
• Abrupt or illegal turns
• Rapid acceleration
• No headlights at night
• Nearly hitting a car or object
• Drifting
• Slow response to traffic signals
• Driving in the wrong direction

What you should do:

KNOWLEDGE IS THE BEST PROTECTION
The most important protection you can have against violent crime is knowing how to avoid it and how to maximize your personal safety in the event of a crime. Here are some tips recommended by crime prevention agencies that can help you lower your risk of becoming a victim.

The following information highlights examples of safety precautions you can take to help protect yourself, your family, and your property. This list is not meant to be all encompassing. Moreover, a particular precaution may not be effective in all circumstances.

SEND THE RIGHT MESSAGE

• Project confidence. Walk with purpose.

• Guard your physical space. Keep an arm's length away from strangers in all directions.
• Carry your possessions as well as your self assertively.
• Don't feel embarrassed or shy about protecting your personal safety. If you don't, who will?

STAY AWAY FROM HIGH-RISK SITUATIONS

• Stay on well-lit, well-traveled streets. Avoid unlit doorways and dark areas.
• Avoid being out alone, especially at night. Go shopping, jogging or traveling with a friend, if possible. If you do go out alone, stay in busy areas and avoid deserted streets.
• Don't use shortcuts that take you down dark alleys or deserted paths. Your personal safety is more important than saving time.

BE AWARE AND ALERT

• Always stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
• Don't wear headphones -- they keep you from hearing someone approaching.
• Trust your instincts. If someone makes you uncomfortable, get away quickly.
• When you go out, let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back.

BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS IN PUBLIC "DANGER ZONES"

The following information highlights examples of safety precautions you can take to help protect yourself, your family, and your property. This list is not meant to be all encompassing. Moreover, a particular precaution may not be effective in all circumstances.

HAVE GOOD ELEVATOR SENSE

• If someone waiting for the elevator with you or someone already in the elevator makes you uneasy, don't get in.
• If a person already in the elevator has not pushed a floor button, don't get off at your floor. Go back to the lobby and report the suspicious activity.
• Stand near the control panel. If you are threatened or attacked, push the alarm immediately. Also push several floor buttons. With the doors opening at several floors, the attacker is less likely to succeed.
• If a person entering an elevator makes you uneasy, get off immediately.

SHOP WITH CARE

• Don't display large sums of cash in public. Be discreet about the money or other valuables you are carrying.
• Be alert in public restrooms. If anything seems amiss or if a group of people is loitering in the area, leave quickly and find another facility.
• Stay alert in crowds to protect your valuables. A thief can use the cover of the crowd to make a quick getaway after stealing your wallet or shopping bag.
• Don't keep your keys in your purse. If your purse is stolen, the thief will have your address and keys to your home. Keep your keys in your pocket.
• Try to park as close to the entrance of the mall or store as possible. In a parking garage, park on the level that leads directly to the mall, so you can avoid elevators or stairwells. Stay alert for people standing behind parked cars or pillars. At night, park under a light whenever possible.
• Consider using the mall's valet parking service if it offers one.
• Make a note of your parking spot so that you don't have to wander around the parking lot after shopping.
• Find your keys before leaving the mall and walk purposely to your car. Make sure nobody is in the car before entering, and lock the doors immediately when you get inside.
• If you are leaving a mall alone at night, request a security escort to your car.
• Don't leave packages visible on the seats or floor of your car. Use the trunk, or hide purchases under a cover or blanket.

USE THE AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINE (ATM) WISELY

• Try to use the ATM during daylight hours. Take someone with you if possible.
• Park as close as you can to the ATM. Better yet, go to one inside a busy store or bank.
• Before using the ATM, look around to make sure no one is lingering in the area.
• Keep your ATM card and deposits concealed until you get to the machine.
• Make sure you block others' view as you enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
• If others are crowding you in or hovering, or if the person in front of you lingers after his or her transaction, leave and find another ATM.
• When finished, put your card and money away quickly. Check to see that you are not being followed.
• If you are ever forced to use the ATM by someone, remember, your life is more important than your money.

GO OUT ON THE TOWN SAFELY

• In theaters, arenas or restaurants, keep your purse on your lap. Do not place it on the seat next to you or on the back of your chair, where it is much easier to steal. Better yet, keep your valuables in a pocket or in a small purse with a strap that can be worn across your body.
• Make a note of where the emergency exits are located in case of a confrontation or crisis.
• Carry only as much cash as you need and only the credit cards you will be using. Leave expensive jewelry at home.

Alcohol interacts with many common medications leading to increased risk of illness, injury or death. Even small amounts of alcohol may have adverse effects when combined with prescription and over-the-counter medicines such as: antibiotics, antidepressants, pain relievers, anesthetics, antihistamines, antiulcer drugs, heart pills, sleep aids and anticoagulants. Alcohol may reduce the effectiveness of medicines or make some more toxic. Some medicines may increase blood alcohol levels or alcohol's adverse effect on the brain.

Avoid alcohol while taking medication, even over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin and acetaminophen.

A child secured in a child safety seat may still be injured or killed in a crash if the car seat has not been installed properly. One of the most common installation errors is failure to use a special locking clip when it is required for your vehicle.

Follow all child seat installation instructions in both the vehicle owner's manual and the child seat directions. Read the safety belt information in your vehicle manual to find out if you need to install the locking clip that comes with each child seat. If the clip is needed, follow the child seat instructions for attaching it to the car's safety belt. If the clip is missing, call the manufacturer to order one.

Some used cribs pose a threat to your baby. Every year, about 50 babies suffocate or strangle when trapped between broken crib parts or in cribs with older, unsafe designs.

Some typical used crib hazards include: missing, loose or broken screw and other crib parts; crib slat spacing more than 2-3/8"; corner posts higher than the end panels; easily dislodged mattress supports; and peeling paint. When purchasing a new crib, be sure it has been certified to meet national safety standards by an independent laboratory.

Baby walkers are the juvenile product most associated with injury. One out of three infants who use these walkers will be injured. Each year, about 29,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms for related injures, including head injuries from falls down stairs and burns when children pull over hot liquids. Because children are capable of moving walkers four feet in one second, it is very difficult for adults to supervise their safe use.

Gates on stairs are not sufficient protection to prevent falls since half of all falls down stairs by infants in baby walkers are in homes with gates. Use playpens and infant swings as alternatives to baby walkers.

FALLS AND THE ELDERLY

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional death in the home -- 7,000 deaths each year. Injuries associated with stair, steps, rugs or floors account for nearly 2 million hospital emergency visits per year--many due to falls. Rugs and runners account for 6.800 hospital-treated injuries to people 65 and older. Wet, soapy tile or porcelain surfaces in the bath are especially slippery and dangerous. Standing on chairs, boxes and other makeshift items to reach high shelves also results in falls. When older people fall, they are more likely to sustain serious injuries that often lead to death.

Retrofit staircase areas with light switches at the top and bottom, and handrails on both sides. Improve tread to prevent slips and falls on stairs and steps. Remove all objects from stairways to prevent tripping, particularly in an emergency or fire. Apply double-faced adhesive carpet tape or rubber matting to the backs of rugs. Grab bars, textured strips and non-skid mats all can help reduce falls in the tub and shower. Use a step stool with a handrail to reach high shelves. Install a night light.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas that kills approximately 300 Americans each year. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. Heating appliances fueled with gas, oil, kerosene or wood may produce CO. If such appliances are not installed, maintained and used properly, CO may accumulate to dangerous levels. Cars, motorcycles and lawnmowers also produce CO. Blocked chimneys and flues also can cause buildup of CO in the home, as can use of a charcoal grill or hibachi in the house or in a car, RV or camper.

Know the signs of CO poisoning: dizziness, fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, irregular breathing or vomiting. Never keep a car, motorcycle or lawnmower running in a closed or attached garage. Have a qualified service technician check your home's central and room heating appliances (including water heaters and gas dryers). Open doors and windows when using unvented kerosene and gas space heater. Have your chimney and flue checked for blockages. Never use a range or oven to heat a room. Install a CO detector.