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NDSC Expands Traffic Safety Department
 In an effort to reduce North Dakota's traffic crashes and fatalities, the North Dakota Safety Council has decided to increase efforts in the Traffic Safety department. The growing demand for programs designed to prevent incidents, reduce insurance rates and save lives helped shape the NDSC's decision to hire Don Moseman as the Traffic Safety Director.Don served in the United States Air Force for seven years with his last duty assignment as a squadron safety officer. He supervised work and traffic safety for more than 4,000 troops. Don also served as a state trooper for 20 years with ten years specializing in driver education and safety programs. Don also served for two years as the Director of Government Programs for the National Safety Council. He has more than 25 years of experience in traffic safety, teaching courses since 1996. Don has conducted training for more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country and is a certified accident reconstruction expert, as well as a hand-to-hand combat instructor.
Don is a National Safety Council Instructor Trainer for all Defensive Driving Courses. He has already begun rolling out several new Traffic Safety and Home & Community programs for the NDSC, including a new CDL program, Coach Me, Self Protection & Predator Awareness, and Active Shooter Safety Awareness.
Don can be reached by contacting the NDSC at 701-751-6117 or donm@ndsc.org.
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Required bicycle helmet use saves kids' lives: study
May 17, 2013 -- Requiring bicyclists to wear helmets would reduce fatalities and serious injuries among children, according to a new study from Boston Children's Hospital.
Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, researchers compared severe injury and death rates among bicyclists younger than 16 in states with mandatory helmet laws and states without them. From January 1999 to December 2009, the rate of fatalities and injuries after bicycle-motor vehicle collisions was 2.0 per 1 million children in states with laws, compared to 2.5 in states that did not require helmet use, the study abstract states.
Researchers said the findings support making helmet use mandatory. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia require bicyclists to wear helmets.
The study was presented May 6 at the 2013 Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting.
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Hospital claims amusement rides pose injury risk
May 17, 2013 -- More than 20 children a day are injured on amusement rides in the summer, according to a study from Nationwide Children's Hospital.
Researchers examined National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 1990 to 2010, the study abstract states. Rides were divided into three categories: amusement park rides (fixed-site rides); rides at fairs and festivals (mobile rides); and rides at local malls, stores, restaurants or arcades (mall rides). A total of 92,885 childhood injuries related to amusement rides were reported, and 70 percent of them occurred between May and September.
Falls were responsible for almost one-third of injuries, a hospital press release states. Most injuries were tied to fixed-site rides and mobile rides. However, researchers noted, mall ride injuries were more likely to be head and neck, face, concussions, or cuts because these rides may be located over hard surfaces and lack child restraints. They suggested avoiding rides in those conditions.
The study was published online May 1 in the journal Clinical Pediatrics.
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Nearly half of high school drivers text behind the wheel: study
May 17, 2013 -- Nearly 45 percent of high school students 16 or older reported texting while driving – with texters more likely to engage in other unsafe driving behaviors – according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers analyzed results of CDC's 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which included questions on participants' driving safety habits. Among responses from 8,500 high school students, researchers found that, compared to non-texters, those who reported texting while driving in the previous 30 days were more than 5 times more likely to drive after consuming alcohol. Texters also were more likely to inconsistently wear safety belts as a passenger and ride with a driver who had been drinking.
Researchers recommended creating stricter laws and technological advancements to deter teens from engaging in unsafe driving behaviors. They also emphasized the effectiveness of parental supervision.
The study was published online May 13 in the journal Pediatrics.
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Estimated 2012 traffic fatalities up 5.3 percent: study
May 17, 2013 -- An estimated 34,080 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2012, a 5.3 percent increase over the previous year and the first year-to-year increase since 2005, according to a new report (.pdf file) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Researchers from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis compared preliminary data on traffic fatalities in 2012 to the number of fatalities reported in 2011. Among the findings:
- The number of vehicle miles traveled increased about 0.3 percent in 2012, to 9.1 billion miles.
- The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2012 increased to 1.16, an increase from 2011 (1.10).
- The number of fatalities in 2012 increased the most between January and March, by an estimated 12.6 percent.
NHTSA said it will continue to gather data on crash fatalities from police reports and other sources.
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NTSB recommends states lower drunk driving limit
May 17, 2013 -- States should reduce the blood-alcohol concentration limit for drivers to 0.05 or lower, from the current limit of 0.08, to help decrease the rate of fatal alcohol-impaired crashes, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.
NTSB included the recommendation in a report (.pdf file) released May 14 on reducing substance-impaired driving, which contributes to about one-third of all U.S. highway fatalities.
More than 100 countries currently have a BAC limit of 0.05, a rate at which a driver's cognitive and visual functioning has declined to the point where the risk of crashing "significantly increases," an NTSB press release states.
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AFL-CIO Report Ranks North Dakota Worst In
Nation for Deaths on the Job
As published by the Fargo Forum on May 8, 2013
DICKINSON, N.D. – Protect yourself. That’s the best advice Barbara Allen has for workers, especially for those in the Oil Patch.
“There’s been so many accidents that I’m sure could have been avoided with a little safety,” said Allen, who lost her son, Terry Metcalf, to an oil field accident nine months ago. “Instead of depending on the company you work for, you’re just going to have to take care of yourself. Not depend on somebody else to take care of it for you.”
On Tuesday evening, the AFL-CIO released its annual “Death on the Job Report,” ranking North Dakota in last place for worker safety, with a worker fatality rate in 2011 of 12.4 per 100,000 workers. The national rate is 3.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers. There were 44 fatalities in North Dakota in 2011.
Click here to read the full story.
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NSC analysis shows cell phone distracted driving crashes vastly under-reported
May 10, 2013 -- The National Safety Council has released findings from a recent analysis of national statistics on fatal motor vehicle crashes.
For Crashes Involving Cell Phones: Challenges of Collecting and Reporting Reliable Crash Data (.pdf file), researchers reviewed 180 fatal crashes from 2009 to 2011 in which evidence indicated cell phone use by the driver. Of these fatal crashes, in 2011 only 52 percent were coded in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Fatal Analysis Reporting System as involving cell phone use. Download an infographic and read an article from the Associated Press about the analysis.
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Study projects 9 percent increase in motorcyclist
May 10, 2013 -- The number of motorcyclist fatalities that occurred in 2012 is projected to reach more than 5,000 – about 9 percent higher than the 2011 total, according to a report (.pdf file) from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
The findings are based on preliminary traffic fatality data for the first nine months of 2012 for people operating a motorcycle or riding as a passenger. Compared to the first nine months of 2011, the number of fatalities increased in 34 states, decreased in 16 states and showed no change in the District of Columbia. GHSA identified effects of the strengthening economy, including increased disposable income for purchasing and riding motorcycles, as reasons for the overall increase.
Based on the findings, GHSA recommended that more states adopt motorcycle helmet laws.
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NHTSA: 135 people killed in school transportation crashes every year
May 10, 2013 -- A total of 1,351 people died in school transportation-related crashes between 2002 and 2011 – a yearly average of 135 fatalities – according to a new report (.pdf file) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Researchers from NHTSA's National Center for Statistics and Analysis analyzed crash fatality data for occupants of any vehicle used to transport students to and from school or school-related activities, as well as occupants of other vehicles and pedestrians involved in these crashes. According to the report, between 2002 and 2011:
- 41 drivers of school transportation vehicles were killed – an average of four every year.
- 40 percent of the 123 school-aged pedestrians (younger than 19) killed in crashes were 5 to 7 years old.
- 72 percent of people killed in school transportation-related crashes were occupants of other vehicles.
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Stories of Survivors Reinforce Importance of Basic CPR Training
May 6, 2013 - Two recent incidents in Bismarck remind us why knowing basic life support is so important. For most employees, CPR training is a focus for on-the-job safety. But these two miraculous stories demonstrate how this life-saving training is important, not just for employees, but their families too. Kenlee Jeffrey and Brian Carlson are living proof of this - two lives saved because someone close to them was equipped with the knowledge to calmly react in an emergency and perform CPR.
3-Year-Old Saved from Drowning by Mandan Man
On a recent Saturday, the swimming pool at the Comfort Inn and Suites was a popular place, with at least two birthday parties and lots of kids.
For 3-year-old Kenlee Jeffrey, it also was where she nearly died.
Kenlee was with her mother, Hillary Theurer, for a friend’s birthday party. She was playing in the kids’ pool when Theurer turned away briefly. When Theurer turned around, Kenlee was no longer in the kids’ pool.
Click here to read the full Bismarck Tribune story about how on-the-job CPR training saved Kenlee’s life.
Bismarck man survives heart attack during the blizzard
The fact that Brian Carlson is alive defies the odds.
Last month, the 36-year-old Carlson suffered one of the most deadly kinds of heart attacks. During a blizzard.
In the next several hours, he was administered CPR, given at least six shocks from a defibrillator and put into a medically-induced coma so the doctors could cool his body down to prevent brain damage — a process known as therapeutic hypothermia.
Click here to read more on Brian's story and how CPR saved his life. (Story as printed in the Bismarck Tribune.)
To learn more about how you can become certified in First Aid and CPR, click here, or contact Kevin Stewart at 701-223-6372.
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NIOSH: Protect firefighters from noise-induced hearing loss
May 10, 2013 -- A new NIOSH publication (.pdf file) warns of the dangers of noise-induced hearing loss among firefighters.
Agency studies have found hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) among firefighters can be caused by loud noise such as sirens, alarms, engine pumps, chain saws, ventilation fans and pneumatic tools used in emergency extrication.
To help protect firefighters, NIOSH recommends:
- Use engineering and administrative controls to reduce noise exposure from equipment.
- Train firefighters on harmful noise levels and hearing loss.
- Provide individualized training on hearing protection devices.
- Fit-test hearing protection.
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Cold meds not intended for young kids: report
May 6, 2013 - Despite warning labels, many parents give their young sick children over-the-counter cold and cough medicine that could cause serious side effects, according to a new poll (.pdf file) from the University of Michigan.
As part of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, a sample of parents with children 3 or younger answered questions about the types of medication they had given their child. Approximately 40 percent reported giving cough or cold medicine; one-quarter reported giving decongestants.
A 2008 advisory from the Food and Drug Administration cautions against giving these medications to children younger than 2, and warning labels on cold medicines state they should not be given to children younger than 4. Potential side effects for young children include allergic reactions, uneven heart rate, drowsiness, slow and shallow breathing, confusion, hallucinations, convulsions, and constipation, according to a U-M press release.
Researchers recommend that parents read directions on all over-the-counter medications and call their pediatrician with any questions.
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Voice-to-text not safer than manual texting while driving: study
May 6, 2013 - Using voice-to-text technology is not safer than manually texting while driving, according to a new study (.pdf file) from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute.
Researchers evaluated the safety performance of 43 participants driving a vehicle on a controlled course – once without a cell phone, once each while using two types of voice-to-text technology and once while texting manually. Drivers were measured on how long it took to complete the course, as well as how long it took to respond to a light that came on randomly.
Compared to driving without a phone, texting drivers took about twice as long to react to the light and spent significantly less time looking at the road, with little difference in results for each texting method. Participants were compelled to check the accuracy of texts created by voice-to-text technology, which helps explain the similar results for looking away from the road, researchers noted. They called for more research on differences between using voice-to-text technology and manual texting while driving.
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ATA vice chairman calls for shift in law enforcement focus
May 6, 2013 - Traffic law enforcement agencies should shift their priorities away from roadside inspections and instead focus on drivers' unsafe behaviors – the cause of about 9 out of 10 crashes – according to an American Trucking Associations representative.
In an April 23 speech to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Phil Byrd, ATA vice chairman, discussed traffic law enforcement's use of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (.pdf file).
Increased emphasis on roadside commercial vehicle inspections and driver credential checks will not be effective in reducing injuries and fatalities, Byrd said. Citing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration data, he claims that on-road presence and traffic violation interventions, combined with brief inspection activity, is about 3 times more effective than roadside vehicle inspections.
Byrd also called for increased enforcement emphasis on passenger vehicle driver behaviors around CMVs through the ATA "Share the Road" program.
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BLS releases revised workplace fatality figures
April 26, 2013 - In 2011, 4,693 workers died on the job, according to revised numbers (.pdf file) issued April 25 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
BLS reported a preliminary count of 4,609 deaths in September. The revised figure for 2011 is virtually even with the previous year's final figure of 4,690.
The rate of worker deaths per 100,000 full-time workers remained the same from the preliminary report to final report – 3.5. This represents a slight decrease from the 2010 final rate of 3.6.
Changes between the September and April reports were caused by updates to the 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries file that were made after the preliminary results were released, and include identification of new cases and revisions of existing cases.
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2 out of 5 highway contractors experienced work zone crash in past year: survey
April 23, 2013 - Arlington, VA – Thirty-eight percent of highway contractors experienced motor vehicles crashing into their construction work zones in the past year, according to a survey (.pdf file) from the Associated General Contractors of America.
The organization surveyed nearly 800 highway construction firms nationwide in March and April. Among the results:
- 18 percent of crashes resulted in at least one construction worker injury in the past year, while 8 percent resulted in a worker death.
- 46 percent of crashes resulted in at least one vehicle driver or passenger injury, while 14 percent resulted in a driver or passenger death.
- Of the respondents who reported a crash in their work zone, about one-third experienced five or more crashes.
- 70 percent of respondents said improved and timelier safety training for construction workers would help reduce the number of crashes, injuries and fatalities in work zones.
AGC also released survey results for select states.
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Are You Receiving our Email Updates?
The NDSC sends out relevant safety and training information to members and safety advocates, via email, on a regular basis. Some companies’ Internet Service Providers (ISP) block emails from the NDSC’s email service, Constant Contact. If your company is a member of the NDSC, or you have signed up to receive our email updates, but have not been receiving them,
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS TO UNBLOCK INCOMING NDSC EMAILS. If you would like to receive our email updates but are not currently signed up, please sign up today! We offer information including monthly training updates, NDSC Quarterly Newsletters, child and home safety and occasional training updates specific to your area.
To sign up, simply email serenas@ndsc.org and let us know what information you are interested in receiving. |
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