Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been 7 fatal crashes in Wood County for calendar year 2017, compared to 4 for the same time frame in 2016.

Outside of crashes, heatstroke is the number one vehicle-related killer of children in the United States. In fact, in 2016, there were 39 preventable deaths of children in vehicles, a 63% increase from 2015.

Simple steps for caregivers to prevent heatstroke:

• NEVER leave a child in a vehicle unattended. Even for a minute.
• Make it a habit to look in the back seat when exiting the car – EVERY time.
• ALWAYS lock the care and put the keys out of reach of children.

Simple steps for bystanders to prevent heatstroke:

• Make sure the child is okay and responsive. If not, call 911 immediately.
• If the child appears to be okay, attempt to locate the parents or have the facility’s security or management page the car owner over the PA system.
• If there is someone with you, have one person actively search for the parent while the other waits at the car.
• If the child is not responsive or appears to be in distress, attempt to get into the car to assist the child – even if that means breaking a window.

A child’s body temperature can rise up to five times faster than an adult, and heatstroke can occur with outside temperatures as low as 57 degrees. On an 80-degree day, a car can reach a deadly heat level in just about 10 minutes.

Look Before You Lock!

For More Information:

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

Motorists can help make the roads safer for motorcyclists by taking some simple precautions.

• Typically, motorcyclists are more inclined to take to the road on weekends, meaning it is even more important to stay alert and be extra cautious.
• Allow ample space for the motorcyclist to maneuver and react if necessary; always follow three or more seconds behind.
• Never attempt to share the lane with a motorcycle.
• Motorcycles can be heard to see; look for them by double checking your mirrors and blind spots before switching to another lane of traffic.
• Always signal before changing lanes or merging with traffic; this allows motorcyclists time to anticipate your movement and find a safe lane position.
• If a turn signal is on, wait to be sure the rider is going to turn before you proceed; it may not be self-canceling and the motorcyclist may have forgotten to turn it off.

Remember, safety is a shared responsibility –– do your part.

To learn more traffic safety tips visit the Safe Communities website.

Wood County Safe Communities announced today that there have been six fatal crashes in Wood County for calendar year 2017, compared to four for the same time frame in 2016.

During a crash, being buckled up helps keep you safe and secure inside your vehicle, whereas being completely thrown out of your vehicle almost always leads to injury. Seat belts are the best defense against impaired, aggressive, and distracted drivers.

In 2015, the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,941 lives of occupants ages 5 and older. The Click It or Ticket campaign focuses on safety education, strong laws, and law enforcement officers saving lives.

Though some believe airbags can replace seat belts in the event of an accident, the force of being thrown into a rapidly opening airbag could injure or even kill. Airbags were designed to work in conjunction with seat belts to maximize safety efforts. Your pelvis and rib cage are more able to withstand crash force than other parts of your body, which is why it’s important to secure your seat belt over these areas. If impact should occur, these areas will be able to take more of the pressure from seat belts and airbags to protect the rest of the body.

There are several steps you can take to get the best seat belt fit for your safety. When buying a car, test the belts provided to see if they are a good fit for you. You can talk to your car dealer about options for seat belt adjusters and extenders if necessary. For those with older vehicles, your seat belt may be outdated for current standards. Check with the vehicle manufacturer to determine the best option for you.

Click it or Ticket!

For More Information:

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

Safe Communities of Wood County is thrilled to announce the purchase a Simple Decision dVT29 Portable Desktop Simulator made possible through donations received from Dancing with the BG Stars and the Rossford Police Department.

Driving simulators allow active learning by making it possible to give immediate feedback on driver performance. The experience of using a simulator is as close as a person can come to training on actual roads with a licensed driving instructor, but without the crash risk. A simulator provides the opportunity for a driver to attempt distractions such as texting and driving, talking on a phone, eating, and other activities, and to learn and experience the consequences. When using the simulator, participants are asked to obey all the traffic laws, use turn signals, and concentrate. The simulator shows both youth and adults just how hard it is to perform multiple actions at once.

If you wish to experience the simulator, contact Sandy today.

For More Information:

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