All posts by lona

About lona

BGSU Recreation and Wellness, Assistant Director

Safe Driving Tips

Safe Communities announced today that there have been zero fatal crashes in Wood County this year compared to four at this time last year.

Rear-end and fixed object crashes are the major causes of crashes in Wood County.  Common factors that contribute to these type of collisions include:

  • Aggressive or reckless driving.
  • Texting and driving.
  • Driver fatigue.
  • Negligence while driving through intersections, parking lots, and highway ramps.
  • Failure to follow the rules of the road.

You can prevent these crashes by remembering these simple rules:

  • Look further up the road to spot traffic stopping long before the vehicle in front of you slams on its brakes.
  • Stay focused on your driving
  • Leave 2-3 vehicle lengths between you and the car in front of you, and more at higher rates of speed
  • Do not drive in excess of the speed limit
  • Do not drive drowsy or impaired
  • If there is poor visibility be cautious and drive within your abilities.

Let’s strive for zero fatal crashes in 2018.

For More Information:

  • Angel Burgos, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:
    419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

Halloween Traffic Safety Tips

Safe Communities of Wood County announced today that the annual safe driving Halloween National Mobilization is October 31, to November 1, 2017.

Halloween is a time for making memories, not causing nightmares. This Halloween, Safe Communities of Wood County would like to remind everyone to party responsibly and to stay safe – and help keep others safe – by refraining from drunk driving.

Per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 45 percent of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes on Halloween were in crashes involving a drunk driver. Children out trick-or-treating are also at risk, as 36 percent of fatal pedestrian crashes on Halloween involve drunk drivers.

We ask that you follow these simple tips for a safe and happy Halloween:

  • Remember that it is never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get home safely.
  • Download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, or another taxi service app, like Uber or Lyft, so you can easily find a safe ride home.
  • If you suspect a drunk driver on the road, pull over to a safe location and contact your local law enforcement or call #677 and report it.
  • Have a friend who is about to drink and drive? Take the keys away and arrange to get your friend home safely.

For More Information:

  • Angel Burgos, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:

419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.edu

Hannah Adams’ RecWell Spotlight

Hannah Adams WorkingCollege is a time for experience and exploration, figuring out what you want, or don’t want, to do for the rest of your life. These learning opportunities are invaluable, as 2017 alum Hannah Adams learned first-hand. She came to BGSU a marketing major, but after joining a business fraternity on campus and working in customer service, she was able to blaze a new path toward her professional goals. As a member of a business-centric organization, Hannah was surrounded by people who were passionate about business – which made her realize she was not. She was very interested in the administration side of business, however, and enjoys working with older adults, so she switched to a major in Gerontology, intending to be a healthcare administrator.

Around the time of transitioning into a new major, Hannah began working at the Student Recreation Center. She wanted a job on campus, and a friend recommended applying to the Rec. In her time with RecWell, Hannah has seen major changes; when she started as a Customer Service Attendant, the Rec was still under renovation, and her shifts took place on the basketball court! She has since received a promotion, becoming a Customer Service Associate.

Hannah has learned a lot about customer service in her position. “I didn’t realize what exactly I was getting into when I first started,” she said, regarding the different issues and questions patrons bring to her attention, but she soon became a professional problem-solver and mentor to new hires. She says she will use these skills in her future as a healthcare administrator, overseeing departments in a nursing home: “I plan on being extremely involved with families and residents, because I think that’s important.”

Hannah hopes to someday work as an administrator at a hospice facility. She cares greatly about properly administered hospice care, and her experience with RecWell policies has prepared her for just that. As a CSA, Hannah needed a firm understanding of policies: “We have to know everything about the facility to ensure that everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing, and that everyone’s safe.”

Spotlight on RecWell Staff – SRC Familiar Face Sara Scacchi

Sara Scacchi Portrait
 Navigating college can be a daunting task, especially for first-generation students; finding employment, joining organizations, and figuring out post-grad plans require time, energy, and resources, but alum Sara Scacchi (’17) was up for the challenge. During her first year at BGSU, Sara joined Delta Sigma Pi, the professional business fraternity on campus, and was a finalist in The Hatch, an annual campus-wide competition where 12 students pitch business plans to a panel of investors in front of a live audience and thousands of online viewers. These involvements shaped Sara’s BGSU experience, helping plan her future and join the department of Recreation and Wellness.

Taking part in the ten-week business-heavy mentoring program opened Sara’s eyes for a love of business and marketing (READ MORE).When she got involved with the College of Business, something clicked: “I kind of fell in love with business. I’m a people person, and if I could get paid to talk to people all day, help solve their problems, and provide them with something that would better their life, then that’s what I want to do.”

Joining the professional business fraternity also had more to offer than Sara expected: friendships, leadership roles, and a job at the Student Recreation Center. “When I joined Delta Sigma Pi, I immediately became friends with [2017 alum and RecWell employee] Hannah Adams… she encouraged me to apply, and I was lucky enough to go through interviews, and I got a job, and I’ve been able to work with her ever since, so that’s been pretty cool.”

Working as a Customer Service Associate (CSA) has aligned handsomely with Sara’s skills and aspirations; she is going into sales, so her day-to-day duties are directly related to her post-grad work. She feels prepared for the future because being a CSA included frequent face-to-face customer interactions, product and service offering explanations, and problem-solving. She has come to understand the value of a learning curve. It reassures me. It has definitely prepared me for the next step in my life. It’s been nice having the right stepping stone to get there.

Sara is beginning her professional career as a sales representative at a Professional Employer Organization in Richfield, Ohio, called Group Management Services; there, Sara will help out small businesses, meet face-to-face with clients, and problem-solve just like she did at the Rec. She is toying with the idea of being a professor someday, and is very thankful for her experiences at BGSU. “This job has been really, really rewarding because you get to see yourself progress. I remember my first shift. I didn’t know nearly anything about the Student Rec Center…and now I’m the one that’s teaching and helping the new people.

Read more RecWell Spotlights

September Focuses on Child Passenger Safety and Commercial Vehicle Awareness

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been 10 fatal crashes in Wood County compared to 9 through this same period last year.

September 10-16, 2017 is National Commercial Vehicle Appreciation Week. Please take a moment to honor all professional drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of the economy’s most demanding and important jobs. These men and women are not only doing their jobs but also working to keep our highways safe.

Also, September 17-23, 2017 is Child Passenger Safety Seat Awareness week.  In Wood County, there has been a fatality involving a child under the age of 13 in calendar year 2017. It is essential for parents to make sure child safety equipment in their vehicles is current with state and federal regulations and installed properly. Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and by 54 percent for toddlers. Car seats are most effective when installed properly and used correctly. Residents of Wood County are encouraged to contact either Wood County Hospital or Safe Kids of Greater Toledo to schedule a car seat inspection.

For More Information:

  • Lt. Angel Burgos, Ohio State Highway Patrol: 419-352-2481
  • Sandy Wiechman, Safe Communities Coordinator:
  • 419-372-9353 or swiechm@bgsu.ed