On April 28th, a national event which emphasizes the importance of properly disposing of unused & expired over the counter & prescription drugs will take place. An emerging trend is that of teenagers attaining their drugs my rummaging through their grandparents’ medicine closets. This leads to harmful mix of alcohol with high doses or prescription drugs, which may lead to alcohol poisoning, multiple injuries, or even a fatality. The DEA has partnered with NCADD and local Police Departments in order to promote the importance of safely discarding all unwanted drugs.
At the age of 16, most teenagers feel as if they’re invincible and it’s a difficult to relay the concept that taking drugs which were not specifically prescribed for them, or taking a higher dose of an over the counter medication, can be fatal, especially if paired with driving. Teens know that drinking and driving is dangerous, but do they know much about drugged driving?????? I don’t think so….. Check this website for more information about the dangers of taking drugs and driving http://www.stopdruggeddriving.org/.
Another extreme but unfortunate effect of taking these drugs is an addiction. For example, pain medications are very easily to get a hold of; more unfortunate is that it is even easier to become addicted to them.
Through this national event, teenagers around the country can be saved from possible harmful altercations in the future. Another emphasis of this event is to express concern for our environment. A home owner’s immediate thought is to flush expired medication down the toilet, which not only contaminates the water, but also leads to multiple problems with animals residing in the sea. This is a great cause which has shown extensive results in the past. Please take the time to dispose of your unused and/or expired medications at a medication drop-off location near you. Please visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html for more information and a drop-off location near you!
Distracted Pedestrian PSA from Operation Lifesaver on Vimeo.
Operation Lifesaver’s :30 PSA showing the dangers to pedestrians of being distracted around tracks and trains.
Pedestrian commuters distracted by smart phone calls and text messages risk deadly encounters with transit buses, commuter and light rail trains, or street vehicles. Rail safety nonprofit Operation Lifesaver has new public service announcements to remind commuters to “Stay Focused! Stay Alive!”
Sunny skies and long summer days are back. But with the return of this season also comes the return of avid motorcyclists to New Jersey roadways.
As we can all attest, riders are everywhere. In this state alone, there are about 300,000. And, this number could increase as gas prices continue to power up motorcycle popularity.
With riding season in full swing, we need to be extra vigilant of each other. In fact, New Jersey is urging all of us (both motorcyclists and four-wheeled drivers!) to safely share the road.
Last year, 67 people were involved in fatal motorcycle crashes in New Jersey. Since May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, it’s a good time to be aware of other vehicles around us.
For riders, it’s important to use every means possible to ensure a safe, injury-free riding season. It doesn’t hurt to be reminded to wear helmets, gloves, and protective clothing to minimize injury… or worse, prevent death. It’s also a good idea to ride in groups with friends whenever possible. As we know, there is safety in numbers.
Are you a new rider? Has it been a while since you’ve ridden a motorcycle? Consider taking a “refresher” course through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. There are other resources and tools worth checking out before you get back on your bike. A little education and some friendly reminders could go a long way.
Motorists have responsibilities, too. We must get in the habit of looking out for motorcycles. Though they’re harder to see than other vehicles, try to anticipate their maneuvers. Riders often change lane positions to respond to road conditions, weather or other factors. Also, allow ample space when following a motorcycle – give them a full car length as you would any other vehicle.
So, before you head out on the road, be sure to do your part to make our roads safe. Together, we can make driving safer for everyone.
See Also:
Car Seat Recommendations for Children
- Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, and choose a seat that fits in
your vehicle and use it every time.
- Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle
owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the
seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
- To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
Birth – 12 months
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1 – 3 years
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4 – 7 years
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.
8 – 12 years
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face.
Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
DESCRIPTION (RESTRAINT TYPE)
A REAR-FACING CAR SEAT is the best seat for your young child to use. It has a harness and in a crash, cradles and moves with your child to reduce the stress to the child’s fragile neck and spinal cord.
A FORWARD-FACING CAR SEAT has a harness and tether that limits your child’s forward movement during a crash.
A BOOSTER SEAT positions the seat belt so that it fits properly over the stronger parts of your child’s body.
A SEAT BELT should lie across the upper thighs and be snug across the shoulder and chest to restrain the child safely in a crash. It should not rest on the stomach area or across the neck.
Given the fact most kids wear helmets while bike riding, it probably seems surprising to some that wearing a helmet while skiing is not required in New Jersey for teenages.
A bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony M. Bucco, R-Boonton, is trying to change that. The bill, which was released from committee last week, would require anyone under the age of 18 to wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding.
A recent study by…read more…
Seniors and Driving: Are They Safe?
There is often a lot of talk about the safety of seniors behind the wheel. Some have argued that seniors make up the most dangerous age group of drivers. Others stated that instead of mandating teens to display decals, the senior drivers should be identified on the roadways. However, according to recent studies, seniors may be the SAFEST drivers on the roads.
Researchers say a driver 70 or older is three times less likely to be killed in a crash than those 35 to 54. Read more about senior drivers at
Older drivers safer: http://www.northjersey.com/news/state/99709069_Judge_drivers_by_ability__not_age.html
Quick Tips To Keep Your Teen Safe
As parents, one of the scariest milestones we face is when our child starts to drive. Some of us may have read the daunting statistics about teen car crash rates. Some of us may prefer to ignore the risks a new driver faces on the roadways. But wherever you fall within that spectrum, you want your child to be safe. Below are some tips to help keep your teen safe:
Learn more at : http://www.njteendriving.com/quick-tips
… a story of tragedy, of hope, and the power of love. Miracles do happen, Noelle McNeil is living proof.
Noelle McNeil: “I Know Heaven Exists.”
~by Bill Kolbenschlag & Jason Berardi of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey
Noelle McNeil, a 25-year old Little Silver, New Jersey, survived a fall from a horse and had a religious experience while in a coma. She has written a book called “Heaven Exists,” and her story is truly inspiring.
Little Silver, NJ: February 11, 2010 — One of Noelle McNeil’s favorite things to quote is the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that “energy cannot be created or destroyed.” For Noelle, this statement rings true in more ways than one.
Noelle, a 25-year-old Little Silver resident, was living quite the life in her second semester at James Madison University. Young, beautiful, popular, and full of energy, she had tons of friends and all the potential in the world.
One day she discovered how life can change in a split second.
A competitive horseback rider, Noelle was thrown from a horse at an equestrian event in August of 2005. She sustained a brain injury and was in a coma for 10 days. After coming through the coma she told her family that she had been to heaven and back.
“I hovered at death’s door for two weeks,” Noelle describes. “I developed a terrible pneumonia that almost killed me. I developed a systemic sepsis infection. My heart race alternately raced and plummeted, and my oxygen saturation rate also dropped precipitously. The monitors crashed and my death was imminent several times, but I survived.”
Even though she made it through, the outlook for Noelle’s future wasn’t good. Doctors said she probably would never walk or function on her own for the remainder of her life.
This began her incredible journey of energy, strength, and perseverance.
Noelle spent more than five months in rehabilitation, and more than eight months in a wheelchair. She had to learn to do everything all over again: walk, talk, eat, speak, etc. “It was the longest eight months of my life,” she said.
Her progress was remarkable. She found the energy within to overcome her devastating injuries and get back on her feet again.
Today Noelle is doing very well. She has trouble with her memory, has had surgery on her right eye, and has difficulty with the use of her right arm. She has gone back to school at Monmouth University and is studying Business and Marketing.
Noelle enjoys sharing her experience with others. She has spoken at her former High School, Red Bank Catholic, and a retirement home in Tinton Falls.
Perhaps her greatest accomplishment since the accident is that she has written a book “Heaven Exists” detailing her story in journal entry form. The book describes her incredible journey in fascinating detail.
Visit Noelle McNeil’s website @ www.noellemcneil.com
As we can all attest, riders are everywhere. In this state alone, there are about 300,000. And, this number could increase as gas prices continue to power up motorcycle popularity.
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