School Safety Reminders

School Safety Reminders

More than 50 million children returned to school this fall, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in Washington, D.C. That means more traffic, busier rush hours, and a greater need for patience while driving.

At this time of year drivers are likely to encounter things like stopped school buses, children on bicycles and scooters, and more pedestrian traffic. Unfortunately, this may sometimes translate into more accidents involving our young people.

In light of our continuing emphasis on safety issues, we thought that this month it may be a good reminder to review some important back to school safety tips!

School Bus Safety:

• Make sure your child has a safe place to wait for the bus.
• Instruct your child to stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop.
• Upon exiting the bus it is important that the child move to a sidewalk or other area that is away from traffic and out of the street.
• Your child needs to understand that the bus driver will not be able to see him/her if he/she bends over in front of the bus to pick something up.

Bicycle Safety:

• Make sure that your child wears a helmet when riding a bike or scooter.
• In addition to wearing a helmet, we recommend elbow and knee pads when riding a scooter.

Play Safety:

• Do not buy children's clothing that uses drawstrings - they are a strangulation hazard as they can catch on playground equipment and other items.
• Anchor and secure movable soccer goals to prevent injury to children who climb on them.

Car Safety:

• Seatbelts are not optional. They are mandatory if in a car.
• Remember to properly use and secure car seats and booster seats.

After School and General Safety:

• Help your child map out a walking or biking route that is direct and safe for him/her if he/she travels to and from school this way.
• If your child walks or bikes to school we suggest that you have him/her wear reflective material that will make him/her more visible to traffic.
• Make sure your child knows his/her phone number, address and how to reach you during the day if necessary.
• Teach your child not to talk to strangers or accept a ride from a stranger.
• If you child is home alone after school, you need a set of rules that will ensure his/her safety.
• Be sure your child knows how to use 9-1-1 in case of emergency.

Please remember that our Daggett Shuler Team is always available to answer your legal questions and talk with you personally should you or someone you know be the victim of an accident or injury that occurred through no fault of your own.

Buckle Up

Buckle Up

Please help us keep our children, families and friends safe.  Failure to wear safety belts is a greater contributing factor in deaths than any other safety related behavior in our lives.

In North Carolina it is now the law that all passengers, both front and back seat, must wear seat belts.  As part of our Safe Sober Prom Night program, we constantly remind our young people that the most dangerous thing they do is ride in a car, regardless of drinking, so for goodness sake please buckle up.  This year we have a success story that saved two lives!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one in five Americans do not regularly wear seatbelts.  Even fewer drivers are wearing seatbelts at night.  A study by the NHTSA  shows that 64 percent of passengers killed in nighttime accidents were not wearing seatbelts.

Those are the statistics, but how does the use of safety belts really affect us??   Safety belts when used properly reduce the number of serious traffic injuries by 50 percent and fatalities by 60-70 percent.  A common cause of death and injury to children in motor vehicles is being crushed by adults who are not wearing safety belts.  One out of four serious injuries to passengers is caused by occupants being thrown into each other.  Of every 100 children who die in motor vehicle crashes at least 80 would have survived if they had been properly secured in an approved child safety seat or safety belts.

Seat belt use is one of the best defenses we have when in a motor vehicle.  Interestingly, other folks in our cars are more likely to wear their safety belts if we do.  Moreover, children are at the highest risk but are also the most likely to follow our lead.  So, please set a good example and help keep our young people safe.

Our North Carolina personal injury attorneys see too many victims of traffic accidents. Don't become a statistic. Buckle up, and make sure everyone in the car has a seatbelt on, too.   Remember, it’s not only the law, but also the most lifesaving thing we can do.

Youth Movement

Youth Movement

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”  Proverbs 22:6   Our Daggett Shuler team was proud to sponsor and work the annual Kids for Kids Triathlon this past weekend.  The event had many lessons for all of us.

First and foremost it was refreshing to see all the families promoting healthy fitness lifestyles in our community.  A great cross section of the community turned out for the event.  The kids had a great time, and, by the apparent smiles, parents, family, and friends enjoyed themselves too.  (Photo album here)

Triathlon and the triathlon community are special.  An elite team of local triathletes staged the race with logistical precision.  The event was on par with national caliber events.  The finish line was spectacular.  Each finisher was given a warm welcome complete with each name being announced, a finisher’s medal, and a special souvenir towel.  

Of course we had some special stories too.  Young Toby Linn has been confined to a wheel chair his entire life.  His family teamed up to pull, push, and carry Toby through the race.  The experience of the finish line was special for Toby just as it was for all the other finishers.

     Unfortunately, in contrast to the 185 healthy children who raced on Saturday, there are many who suffer from child obesity and the accompanying epidemic of health issues such as diabetes and heart problems.  It’s not the kids’ fault, it’s our fault.  We have an obligation to turn this negative wave.  Events like the Kids’ Race are steps in the right direction.

We should all be proud of the progress in our community toward a heathy fitness lifestyle.  It is good for all of us and makes us optimistic about our future . . . plus it’s just plain fun!

A Tribute

A Tribute

This past week our Daggett Shuler Team participated in a really special event.  Wednesday evening was the 5th Annual Rusty Harpe Memorial Race at Caraway Speedway.  It was an evening we will remember for a long time.

Rusty Harpe was the driver of the #71 Late Model Stock Car at Caraway Speedway. He was tragically killed in a farming accident in January of 2007.  Rusty’s father, Chip Harpe, put this race together, along with his wife Lynne and many family friends, to honor his son.

Rusty was a much loved part of the racing community.  The drivers, crew, and track support personnel are a tight-knit group who care about and support each other.  Through Rusty and the whole Harpe family we were able share a experience a special bond with this community.

All of us at Daggett Shuler were proud to be part of this event since we are long time friends with the Harpe family, and I was personally acquainted with Rusty.  We enjoyed a great evening, a fun family event, and a tribute to Rusty.  We were honored just to be part of it.

The evening was truly a memorable event and a special evening.  The folks at the track treated us like family.  The members of our Daggett Shuler team who attended the race were proud that we could play a small part in such a special event.

See and Be Seen

See and Be Seen

Bicycling seems to be growing in popularity.  It is a great form of recreation, fitness exercise and, with higher fuel prices, even transportation.  This week we will focus on bicycles and bicycle safety.

The increasing number of bicycle riders makes this a good time to review some safety tips - for drivers and riders.  Motorists need to know that cyclists have the same rights on the road as they do.  Likewise, cyclists have the same obligation to follow the traffic laws as motorists.

First, please wear a helmet whenever riding a bicycle.  It is now the law in North Carolina that helmets are required for riders under 16 years old.  Look for a safety label that the helmet is approved by ANSI or the Snell foundation. This safety certification is also required under the law.

More than half a million people are injured each year in bicycle mishaps and thousands are killed.  Children 15 and younger account for one-third of the deaths and two thirds of the injuries.  Three-fourths of all deaths are due to head injuries.

Cyclists have an obligation to make sure they can be seen.  Selection of cycling attire can affect the distances that cyclists, or pedestrians, are visible.  Amazingly that range can be from a low of around 200 feet to a high of over 2000 feet just by selection of clothing.

Most cyclists try hard to be considerate to motorists and follow the rules of the road.   Experienced cyclists know that obeying the rules and looking out for their own safety also earns more respect from drivers.

Likewise, most motorists really do try to look out for bike riders.  However, both drivers and cyclists need to be aware that they are sharing the road in order to look out for each other.  Lastly, a friendly wave goes a long way toward keeping our roads safe.

We have several avid cyclists here on our Daggett Shuler Team.  Please feel free to call us if you have questions.  Be Safe!

THE HEAT IS ON

THE HEAT IS ON

Wow!  This past week we got suddenly hit with a large dose of mid-summer heat.  Perhaps that means it is a good time for us to review some summer safety tips.

Believe it or not, there are more illnesses, injuries, and deaths due to the heat of summer than to lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or earthquakes.  Accordingly, the effect of heat on us and our families should not be taken lightly.  There are several heat safety recommendations and tips to help us through the heat such as we have had recently:

1. Drink Water.  Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty.  Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body.

2. Dress For The Heat.  Wear lightweight, light colored clothing.  Light colors will reflect some of the heat’s energy.  It is also a good idea to wear hats, or even use an umbrella.  To make a fashion statement, call it a parasol.

3. Eat Small Meals, and Eat More Often.  Avoid foods high in protein, which increase your metabolic heat.  Increasing metabolic heat is like putting fuel on your internal fire, and also increases water loss.

4. Slow Down.  Avoid strenuous activity.  If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is close to dawn.

5. Stay Indoors When Possible.  When heat is excessive, avoid staying outside for long periods of time.

6. Take Regular Breaks.  When engaged in physical activity on warm days, take time out to find a cool place.  If you recognize if you, or someone else, is showing the signs of heat related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.

7. Don’t Get Too Much Sun.  Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation much more difficult.  Further, too much sun drastically increases the risk for skin cancer.  Be particularly careful with the tender skin of young children.

Remember to have fun!  But, please be safe and stay cool during our hot weather.

Awards and Rewards

Awards and Rewards

Over the last couple of weeks members of our Daggett Shuler team have participated in, been featured speakers at, and presented awards at a number of high school awards ceremonies in the Triad area.

It is fun to honor our local graduating high school seniors including those who have earned additional distinctions and awards.  It is an exciting time for them to continue on the road to success.  We are encouraged by the quality of our local high school graduating classes.

Consistent with a theme from our Safe Sober Prom Night program, we are pleased to participate in the circle of encouragement and support for our young people.  Our teachers, parents, administrators, and community leaders need to continue to come together to offer encouragement and support for our young people.  In this evermore competitive world we need to encourage them to achieve even more.  These achievements will lead to future rewards, personally and for our communities.

Conversely, watching these young people is inspiring and we are encouraged by them to keep achieving ourselves.  As they progress, we too must progress.  Part of our progression is the realization and awareness that we have a whole a new crop of students to encourage and support toward their future successes.

So, please join us in reaching out to our young people.  In particular, our graduating seniors are to be congratulated for their achievements.  We also need to encourage them toward their future successes, and thereby supporting the future successes of our communities and ourselves.  Surely this will lead us to future rewards individually, collectively, and as a society.

Congratulations seniors!  We are proud of you, have high expectations for you, and wish you the very best.