Have a “B+” Thanksgiving and Keep Kids Alive!

A “B+” may not be the highest grade, but it’s a perfectly wonderful blood type, although rare. Only about 9% of us have a B+  “B positive” blood type.

When is comes to driving, though, 100% of us can embrace the need to “B positive”  - that is our driving behaviors need to be positive. So as we head out on roadways of all types this Thanksgiving, let’s make the grade a “B+” by:

•           Taking a walk around your car before backing up or driving forward. Make sure the coast truly is clear of children, pets, toys, etc
•     Buckling up everyone, every trip, no matter the distance– Seat Belts – FASTENATING!®
•       Observing the speed limit, going slower as conditions dictate – No Need To Speed®
•       Putting away all cell phones and other distractions – Hang Up and Drive and Be Aware! Drive With Care®
•       Not tailgating – It’s Not A Race! Create Space®
•       Observing Stop signs correctly – Stop! Take 3 To See®
•       Observing all traffic signals and signs.

Do all these and have a “B+” day every day you are behind the wheel.


www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

What is Your Dream for Children? Let's Keep 'Em Alive

Peter Benson, late President of the Search Institute, talks about the "language of thriving;" that is the words we use to describe our hopes and dreams for our children. See "Sparks: How Youth Thrive."


What is your dream? What are the words of "thriving" that comes to mind for you? Is it joy, hope, service, and a love and appreciation of others? 


Every action, every word, we use to engage others in our lives can reflect the dream we have for our children. Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 plays a role in encouraging the realization these dreams.


How?


Simply by doing what is in our power to see to it that kids grow up to share their joy, passion, hope, and love with others - what Benson calls "sparks!"


Every time we buckle up, observe a speed limit, stop at a stop sign, put aside our cell phone when we drive, decide not to drink and drive, choose not to tailgate, we take the power we have to do what we can to help dreams come true. What we do to prevent tragedy is directly tied to helping kids realize their dreams. Why? Because they are alive.


Do what you can do to keep dreams, and kids, alive today. Be that spark so they can sparkle!


Get involved at www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

It's Not A Race! Create Space Keep Us All Alive

R&M Transportation, our first partner with our "It's Not A Race! Create Space" Campaign sent this photo - see lower righthand corner.

Remember, 29% of all injury crashes result from poor space management on the part of drivers (read-tailgating). Our behavior behind the wheel makes all the difference. Make a life-giving difference today and everyday. Learn more at 
"It's Not A Race! Create Space"

Support the mission at KKAD25 Donate
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Halloween Most Dangerous Night-Keep Kids Alive!

Kyle Foster, Age 10, died as a result of being hit while crossing the street in front of his home in Mesquite, TX on Halloween, 2003

Dear Friends,

Just a quick note to highlight a couple of facts from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

-Halloween has the highest number of child pedestrian deaths. These typically occur on residential streets
-It also has the highest number of DUI-related crash 
fatalities

What can we do? Here are tips from the California Office for Traffic Safety

For tricker-treaters:

-Plan your route ahead of time on well-lit streets. Avoid busy streets.
-Choose a costume that makes it easier to walk, see and be seen. Light color costumes are best.
-Select costumes, masks, wigs or beards made of flame-retardant materials. Avoid flimsy, lightweight fabrics and costumes with billowing skirts or loose, baggy sleeves.
-A mask may keep kids from seeing well. Consider using makeup instead of a mask for added safety.
-It's best to trick-or-treat when it's still light outside, but a flashlight can help trick-or-treaters be seen.
-Use reflective tape on costumes.

For drivers:

-Avoid driving through residential areas where trick-or-treaters are likely to be present.
-Obey all traffic signs and signals. The risk of killing a pedestrian increases more than many people realize with just small increases in speed. A pedestrian is nearly twice as likely to be killed if he or she is hit by a car going 30 mph compared to if they're hit at 25 mph. 
-Watch for children walking on roadways, medians and curbs, and in dark costumes — they'll be harder to see at night. Also, be aware that trick-or-treaters may not be paying attention to traffic and may run out mid-block or between parked cars. Motorists should scan far ahead when driving in residential areas, watch for children and cautiously monitor their actions. Turn on your headlights to make yourself more visible — even in daylight.
-Plan ahead if you will be drinking. Designate a sober driver. If you are already out and have had too much to drink, call a taxi, friend or family to drive you home.
-Party hosts should have plenty of food on hand for everyone throughout the evening and several non-alcoholic drink choices for the designated drivers. 
-Don't allow anyone to leave if you have any doubts about their ability to drive.

Have a happy and safe Halloween.

To help keep kids alive all year long in your neighborhood, visit www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org.

"Don't let the 2 minutes you 'save' be the last 2 minutes of someone's life." Dave Townsend (Tia's Dad - Tia was hit and killed while walking in a marked cross-walk that also had a stop sign.)

Make it a Happy Halloween and Keep Kids Alive!

Our friend Sal from Pleasanton, California sends this timely Halloween message.

Thanks Sal!

Get the "Keep Kids Alive" message out in your neighborhood this Halloween - visit KKAD25 Store. All proceeds support the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

Reflect Your Desire to Keep Kids Alive

Kyle Foster, Age 10 – Died Halloween Night 2003 when hit while crossing the street.

All donations of $25.00 or more will receive Reflective Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 decals to pass out to trick-or-treaters – 2”X3” decals – 1 for each dollar donated while supply lasts. Donate today at KKAD25 Donate to receive decals by October 31^st.

In addition, get the "Keep Kids Alive" message out in your neighborhood this Halloween - visit KKAD25 Store. All proceeds support the mission of Keep Kids Alive Drive 25.

 “Run 5 to Keep Kids Alive!”

Made many new friends the week of October 12-18 in California.  Participated in the run to "Honor Conor" - see Huge Turnout for Conor Lynch 5K Run/Walk. Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 is honored to partner with the Conor Lynch Foundation in promoting safe driving behaviors.

You Met the $1,000.00 Challenge!

Andrew “AJ” Brumback, Age 8, Westminster, CA – Died January 19^th of this year when hit while riding his bike to school.

Thanks to all who helped meet the $1,000.00 Challenge Grant made by an anonymous donor. Donations made in memory of Andrew “A.J” Brumback and Aaron Brock put us over the top.

Consider a year-end gift in the name of a loved one. On-line visit KKAD25 Donate.

By mail:

Keep Kids Alive Drive 25

12418 C Street

Omaha, NE 68144

Need reasons to give? Visit KKAD25 Testimonials

Remember, "It's About Kids! It's About Safety! It's About Caring! It's About Time!"

Remember You Are Loved

Who Do You Love? Who Loves You?

Exits and entries; we make dozens of these each day. What we say to those we care for can make all the difference when they leave home, are dropped off for school or work, and again when they return home. 


Many of these exits involve leaving home, school, or other location by motor vehicle. Each exit is an invitation to simply let those we care for know they are loved. A simple way to do so is to say, "Remember you are loved," each time a loved one parts our company. These words may make all the difference. Try it today, tomorrow, and every day.


And remember to reflect that love in word and action when those we care for return home. This truly allows them to know they are loved the next time they hear the words, "Remember you are loved."


Tom
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25
www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org


PS - for information on presentations to help parents make the most of exits and entries, visit Tom Everson Support Services - for schools, faith communities, youth/family serving organizations, and businesses providing family support resources for employees.

All Roads Lead to Memory Lane

Anna, age 2, Perkiomenville, PA

365 days a year an average of over 90 loved ones die on American roadways, with thousands more dying on roads around the world. Their names include Anna, Shaye, Kyle, Erika, Justin, Anthony, Nadia, Cady, James, Ashley, Brianna, Ian, Tia, Conor, Maddison, Nick, Natalie,and so many others loved by family and friends. They are our daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, moms, dads. They die on every kind of roadway, from the neighborhood street to the highway. 


When we think about it, every road we travel leads to memory lane - the place that held the possibilities, the hopes, the dreams, of those that every family that has experienced the death of a loved one due to a traffic incident recall each day. We may not think about these loved ones each time we take to the road, but their memories are indeed present on just about any stretch of road we travel.

Michael Everson's "Run to Remember" shoe dedicated to Erika Joy Rowan

How can you honor the memory of every loved one who had died in a traffic incident? I suggest that we do so every time we act in a courteous and safe manner behind the wheel or while a passenger in a motor vehicle. All you have to do is:

Be Aware! Drive With Care - Notice what is going on around as you drive - people walking, riding, children at play - and slow down or adjust other behaviors accordingly.

You care by walking around our vehicle before getting in and starting the engine. Make sure no children are around who may be hit as we back up or move forward.

You care by buckling up and making sure all passengers do so as well.

You care by putting away your cell phone - no talking, no texting. The research is in; even talking on a cell phone - hands-free or otherwise - causes one to drive more erratically than driving under the influence at .08 - legally drunk. 

 You care by observing speed limits, stop signs and traffic signals. We remember the words of Tia's dad, "Don't let the 2 minutes you save be the last 2 minutes of someone's life." He uttered these words in the wake of Tia's death - hit while crossing in a marked crosswalk at a stop sign. The first driver stopped. The one behind him decide to go around, hitting Tia and her friend, who luckily survived.

.

You care by creating space between your vehicle and others around you. A rule of thumb; allow 3 seconds of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Find a fixed object - a pole, a bridge, a sign - make sure that 3 seconds pass before you pass that object after vehicle in front of you passes that same object.

As you head out on the road, make every trip worthy of a drive down memory lane in honor of all who have died on roadways of every kind.

To make a difference in your community, visit: www.KeepKidsAliveDrive25.org

Call Keep Kids Alive Drive 25®at 402-334-1391.

It’s About Kids! It’s About Safety! It’s About Caring! It’s About Time!®