Thursday, November 25, 2010

Little Deeds do Indeed Keep Kids Alive!

I recently came across an essay entitled "Little Seeds, Little Deeds" by Margaret Silf. She shares the story of a 6-year-old girl who heard the prime minister of England speaking of the belt-tightening necessary to help bring the country out of recession. The girl had just lost a baby tooth and had received a pound coin (about $1.60) from the tooth fairy.

Touched by the prime minister's words of concern she taped her coin to a letter and sent it to David Cameron with the request to use it "to make the country better and pay for jobs." Not only had the little girl been touched, but her action touched many deeply. Cameron sent the coin back inviting her to spend it on something nice for herself.

Silf goes on to note, "this story touches a deep truth. A 6-year-old gives away all she has so that someone else might benefit. She has it completely right. Miracles happen when we put the common good before our own personal gratification."

What does this have to do with safe driving?

Every little thing, if we are honest.

The miracle today, or any day, can be a life saved simply because we each choose to do a little deed. A little deed can be:
  • Stopping at a stop sign (200 pedestrian deaths and 17,000 injuries are attributed to running stop signs)
  • Observing the speed limit (33% of all traffic deaths are directly caused by speeding)
  • Not tailgating (29% of crashes are the result of following too close)
  • Not drinking and driving, driving while intexticated or using a cell phone in any way, or any behaviors that take our eyes of the road, our hands off the wheel, or impair our judgment in any way
  • Making sure we and all our passengers are buckled up (deaths from traffic incidents could be reduced by 60% or more if only all drivers and passengers were buckled up)
As this holiday season unfolds, be part of a miracle. Engage in one or more little deeds behind the wheel that helps keep the miracle of life alive for your family, for friends, for neighbors, and for people you may never meet wherever you travel.

"Don't let the 2 minutes you 'save' be the last 2 minutes of someone's life." David Townsend (Tia's dad)

In safety,
Tom Everson
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 - A Non-Profit "For Action" Organization 501(c)(3)
402-334-1391
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org


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