Category: Blog: Community Safety Stories

Blog: Community Safety Stories

SIDS Awareness Month

by Brenda Plascencia

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month.  Not only this month, but every month of every year, parents and caregivers can join Safe to Sleep® and its partners to encourage safe infant sleep and help raise awareness about SIDS.

Although the rates of SIDS and other sleep-related infant death have decreased over the years, there is more work to be done.

More than 1 out of 3 of sudden unexpected infant deaths that occur in the United States each year are from SIDS.  Recent research also shows that unsafe bedding, such as soft or loose blankets in baby’s sleep area, remains a leading cause of infant death.

This may seem very scary however there are ways to help keep babies safe.  Here are some ways. 

  • Babies should sleep on a firm and flat surface, such as a mattress in a safety-approved crib, that is free of loose and soft items such as toys, crib bumpers, and blankets. #SafeSleepSnap. #SIDSAwarenessMonth 
  • Keeping baby in your room, in a separate safe sleep area made just for baby (such as a safety-approved crib next to your bed) helps to reduce the risk of #SIDS and other sleep-related causes of infant death.
  • DYK? #Breastfeeding or feeding babies breast milk reduces their risk for #SIDS. Remember to also practice safe sleep when feeding.

Information shared from https://safetosleep.nichd.nih.gov/

Blog: Community Safety Stories

Teens and Clifford the Big Red Dog team up for Railroad Safety

by Brenda Plascencia

Did you know that a child dies every 5 days as a result of being struck by a train? My name is Nohemi Ramos and I am a senior at Silva Magnet High School. My friends and I learned about this statistic through our Safe Kids Rail Safety Service-Learning program. And when we heard the actual stories about the kids who were killed when they were walking too close to the tracks or even taking a selfie, we knew we had to do something about it! We started by sharing the statistics and stories with our peers but we also had the chance to educate elementary school students about rail safety. That’s where the book, Clifford and the Railroad Crossing, came into play. We know that kids learn best when they’re having fun, so sharing a great book like Clifford made it easy to teach all the key tips for staying safe around train tracks. Clifford even inspired my friends and me to get together and create our own children’s book filled with rail safety games so that the kids could learn even more while doing hands-on activities. We presented Clifford and also read our book to children at Cooley Elementary School and it couldn’t have gone better. Our time with the kids went by so fast and they were all having so much fun that before we knew it, they were actually reciting the rail-safety tips back to us. And Clifford isn’t just making a difference in our community. Other teenagers are reading Clifford to kids and using their creativity to keep kids safe in their communities, too. This is important because if we are going to eliminate these preventable injuries and deaths to children and teens, then we all need to work together! So please join us and share these three tips with your friends, neighbors, and family: 1. Cross the tracks only at places marked by a railroad crossing sign, lights or a gate. And look both ways before you cross. 2. Wait for the train. When lights are flashing or the gates are down, wait for the train to pass. Even if you are in a hurry, don’t try to beat the train by rushing across the tracks. 3. Don’t play around, walk on or walk along train tracks. Trains are at least three feet wider than the tracks on either side so even if you are beside the tracks, it is still dangerous. And if you are an educator or community leader and think that Clifford and the Rail Safety Crossing will help raise awareness and educate students in your community, please check out this Rail Safety Station or contact Nadji Kirby at nkirby@safekids.org! Continue to stay healthy and safe!

Blog post shared from Safe Kids Worldwide and was written by Nohemi Ramos of Silva Magnet High School

Halloween Safety 101

by Brenda Plascencia

Halloween is just around the corner! Safe Kids Missoula wants you to remind you to take precautions to keep your family safe. Review these helpful tips from Safe Kids Worldwide and tips in general. You can also find more Halloween safety tips at safekids.org/Halloween.

Walk Safely

  1. Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
  2. Put electronic devices down, keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
  3. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
  4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
  5. Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
  6. Join kids under age 12 for trick-or-treating. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, tell them to stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.

Drive Safely

  1. Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
  2. Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
  3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully. Get rid of any distractions – like your phone – in your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
  4. Turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
  5. Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert for kids during those hours Costumes for a Safe Halloween.
  6. Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
  7. Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
  8. Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
  9. When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls

Be Safe

  1. Keep your children buckled up any time the car is in motion
  2. Carry glow sticks or flashlights, or use reflective tape or stickers on costumes and bags to help kids see and be seen by drivers
  3. Choose a costume that is the right size to prevent trips and falls and remember that masks can limit children’s vision
  4. Inspect candy and treats before children eat them, and avoid treats that are not prepackaged unless the treat is from someone you know and trust

Fall is a good time to check your smoke alarm.

by Brenda Plascencia

The first Sunday in November is when Daylight Saving Time ends in most areas of the U.S., so in 2021 we will turn back our clocks on Sunday, November 7, 2021, at 2 a.m. With this “Fall Back” it is also a great time to remember to test your smoke detectors. Additional helpful hints include:

  • Smoke detectors should be checked at least once a month by using the test button.
  • Check the batteries every six months.
  • Even if they seem to be working, change the batteries every year.
  • Remember that if a battery is starting to lose its power, the unit will usually chirp to warn you.

I believe in these tips as once upon a time, I awoke in the middle of the night to a screeching smoke alarm. Our wood stove had somehow had sparks fly out which in turn had started our wood floors on fire (or so we were told later).

I cannot believe how scared I was as I grabbed my son and my dog and raced out of the house. Although I was scared, I was safe. I am so glad that I kept track of the dates that I checked the batteries and followed the advice given above. I will forever be thankful for my smoke alarm and working batteries.

Blog: Community Safety Stories

The best offense is a good defense.

by Brenda Plascencia

You’ve likely heard this saying, “The best offense is a good defense,” before, and you likely never thought much about this saying outside of a sports environment, but I’d like to highlight the life-saving aspects of such a saying.

During the recent Western Montana Fair, I likely spoke with 500+ people at the “Respect The Cage” exhibit about the importance of driving 100% sober 100% of the time and wearing a seat belt. The exhibit is a display of a local crash that occurred on Mullan Road about 14 years ago. It was on display so we, as a community, could learn from the mistakes that resulted in this local tragedy.  

I won’t go into all the crash details, but you can watch a video about it here:  https://www.drivesafemissoula.com/buckle-up-montana-coalition.

Essentially, there were a lot of mistakes that were made that resulted in the tragic loss of life. However, there was also evidence that one defensive maneuver saved a life. The choice to wear a seatbelt.

A seat belt is your single best defense to help survive a crash at any speed. Crashes are usually the result of a mistake, which is why I’ve purposely did not call it an accident.  For example, a vehicle hydroplanes on the highway and hits the concrete divider. It’s not an accident. It’s a crash. The cause is the driver was driving too fast for conditions, and the conditions were the amount of standing water on the roadway and the nearly bald tires on the car.  

If the driver had good tires on the car, they likely would not have hydroplaned, or if they were driving slower (even with bad tires), they likely would not have hydroplaned. It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t by chance, and there was an apparent and deliberate cause.  It was a crash.

Sure, there may be some chance happenings that could occur without a deliberate cause. Those could fall under the “accident” category. Still, in all my years investigating traffic crashes, I was always able to identify a “cause” that put it in the “Crash” category.

Yes, and I’ve also heard people tell stories about their uncle’s cousin’s Jr. high school teachers’ friend from the Niagara Falls area who survived a crash because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt. Well, they likely would have also survived if they were wearing their seatbelt too. A seatbelt isn’t a magic blanket that will save you in all cases. If that were the case, NASCAR drivers wouldn’t need helmets, 5-point harnesses, and fireproof suits. With the speeds we travel these days, the energy our bodies experience during a crash can still be fatal even when wearing a seatbelt. It just dramatically increases your chances of survival.

I’ve personally seen cars so smashed I wouldn’t even expect a 5-point harness and helmet would have saved the person who was standing next to me wondering how they survived. They gave thanks to their sea belt. I’ve also seen the complete opposite crash where a car was nearly in a drivable condition. Still, someone didn’t survive for no other reason than they weren’t wearing their seat belt. 

During the fair, I must have spoken with 25 different first responders and tow truck drivers. Many shared stories about the crazy crashes they responded to, and they all were in clear agreement that seatbelts save lives.

Your seatbelt is the best defense against all those other drivers out there who are on their phones, speeding, tailgating and driving impaired.

Thank you for buckling up, and please Drive Safe Missoula.

Partner Share: Safety Resource Center

by Brenda Plascencia

Each year more than 56 million children travel from their homes to attend school by walking, biking, and taking the bus. Drivers must take precautions to account for increased traffic and dangers as children return to school. 

Roads will become congested during peak times, and school zones have become one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths for school-aged children.

As more children attend public schools and more drivers take to the road each year, it is essential for drivers to practice safe driving habits when traveling near school zones to ensure 

Drivers need to be on high alert during the time periods between 7-8 A.M. and 3-4 P.M. since these are typically the times when children are travel to and from school.

Accident prevention requires all drivers to pay special attention when driving in or near school zones, so let’s look at five of the most important points to remember when driving near schools or playgrounds this year! Learn more now.