Safety Tidbits 8/27/07

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” Vincent Lombardi, NFL Coach

Motorcycle fatalities on the rise
My teenage son wants a motorcycle a ‘crotch rocket’ because some of his friends have them. I told him he doesn’t need one and the NHTSA agrees with me. Here is some information from the NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis.
All data is from 2005.
-4453 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in the United States (a 13% increase over 2004).
-87,000 additional motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents (a 14% increase).
-34% of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
-Forty-one percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes in 2005 had a blood alcohol concentration of .0.08 g/dL or higher.
-The majority of fatalities involved drivers under the age of 30 years.
-Per vehicle mile motorcyclists are 34% more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accident.
-Helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists.

The right attitude can get you through it
“Our attitudes control our lives. Attitudes are a secret power working twenty-four hours a day, for good or bad. It is of paramount importance that we know how to harness and control this great force.” Tom Blandi, French literary theorist and author

Did you Know…
Each year, approximately 109 work-related fatalities occur in Oklahoma, and 20 involve machinery; Nationally, the top three work-related killers are motor vehicle accidents, falls and homicides, in that order.
Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S and more than half of Americans are overweight; one-third of Americans are obese.
Obesity is on the rise because high calorie, high fat food is abundant and physical activity is optional.
Oklahoma is ranked 14th highest in the nation for obese adults and 16th highest in the nation for overweight high schools students.
One in every five children under the age of fourteen years old is overweight.

Quote of the Week:
“One man with courage makes a majority.” –Andrew Jackson