TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR PROPERTY SAFE

Check Your Locks

• Make sure every external door has a strong, well-installed dead bolt lock. Key-in-the-knob locks alone are not enough.
• Sliding glass doors offer easy access if they are not properly secured. You can secure them by putting a broomstick or dowel in the inside track to jam the door or by installing commercially available locks. To prevent the door being lifted off of the track, drill a hole through the sliding door frame and the fixed frame. Then insert a pin in the hole.
• Lock double-hung windows with key locks or "pin" your windows by drilling a small hole at a 45 degree angle between the inner and outer frames, then insert a nail that can be removed. You should secure basement windows with grilles or grates (but make sure that they can be opened from the inside in case of fire).
• Never hide keys around the outside of your home. Instead, give an extra key to a neighbor you trust.
• When you move into a new house or apartment, re-key the locks.

Check Your Doors

While we all like to feel that once we close and lock our doors, we’re safe and secure, the truth of the matter is that a lock on a flimsy door is about as effective as locking your car door but leaving the window down with your wallet on the front seat.

• All outside doors should be metal or solid wood.
• Install a peephole or wide-angle viewer in all entry doors so that you can see who is outside without opening the door. Door chains break easily and don’t keep out intruders.
• If your doors don’t fit tightly in their frames, install weather stripping around them.

Check the Outside

Take a look at your home from the outside, and keep in mind the following tips to help make your home as safe as it can be:

• Burglars hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Motion-detector lights can be particularly effective.
• Keep your yard clean. Prune shrubbery so it doesn’t hide windows or doors. Cut back tree limbs that a burglar could use to climb to an upper-level window.
• If you travel, create the illusion that you are at home by getting timers that will turn lights (and perhaps a television or radio) on and off in different parts of your home throughout the day and evening hours. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.
• Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And make sure you don’t let your mail and/or newspapers pile up. Call the post office and newspaper to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick them up.
• Make a list of your valuables, such as VCRs, stereos, computers, and jewelry. Take pictures of the items, list their serial numbers and description or better yet video each room in your house, don't forget the garage, and use the camera's audio to record a description and serial number. Put the video tape in a safety deposit box, don't leave it in the camera. This will help police if your home is burglarized.
• Ask your Mount Juliet Police Department if they offer a free home security survey.
• When getting work done on your vehicle, leave only the vehicle key for the service personnel. The same goes for car park attendants and valets.
• If you are having work done on your vehicle, give the service station your business address – not your home address.

Burglars Can Do More Than Just Steal

While most burglars prefer to strike when no one is home, intruders can commit other crimes such as rape, robbery, and assault if they are surprised by someone entering the home, or if they pick a home that is occupied.

• If something looks questionable – a slit screen, a broken window or an open door – don’t go in. Call the police from a neighbor’s house, a cell phone, or a public phone.
• At night, if you think you hear someone breaking in, leave safely if you can, then call the police. If you can’t leave, lock yourself in a room with a phone and call the police.
• One other important note – never leave a message on your answering machine that indicates that you may not be at home, or that you live alone. Instead, say “We’re not available right now.”

What If I Live in an Apartment?

While apartment living is a little different from living in a single family home, there are still some additional things that you can do to make sure that you, your loved ones, and your property remain safe and secure. Similar to Neighborhood Watch, members of an Apartment Watch learn how to make their homes more secure, watch out for one another and members of the community, and report crime and suspicious activity to the police. Some things you can do:

• Never let anyone you don’t know into your building or past security doors.
• Work with the management to organize citizen patrols to walk around the apartment complex and alert police to crime and suspicious activities. Don’t forget to patrol parking lots, stairways, laundry rooms, and playgrounds.
• Publish a newsletter that gives local crime news, recognizes Apartment Watch captains, and highlights community activities.
• Have a reception in the lobby of your building or a cookout on common property so neighbors can get to know one another.
• Start a Safe Haven Program for children – places where they can go in emergency or scary situations.
• Check the complex on a regular basis for problems such as burned-out light bulbs, dark corridors, uncollected trash, or broken locks on mailboxes and doors. Report any such problems to the building manager. Keep pressure on management to make sure it provides adequate security.
• Organize meetings to brainstorm how you can help each other, such as starting an escort service for the elderly.

Thefts from Autos

One of the most common types of theft is theft of valuables from your automobile. Theft from auto is strictly a crime of opportunity that can be prevented if you take away the opportunity. Thieves generally won’t waste their time breaking into autos that don’t have valuables in plain sight.

Recently, the Mount Juliet Police Department has recorded an increase in thefts from autos, particularly in areas across Mount Juliet known for their fashionable stores, popular restaurants and trendy bars. Cars parked near sporting venues when games or concerts are scheduled may also be targeted. If you plan on parking your car in a neighborhood that is known for its numerous visitors, remember thieves know these areas are popular, too. Certain neighborhoods are targeted due to easy in and out access. Be sure to either take valuable property with you or secure it properly.  The Mount Juliet Police Department places a high value on you and your property. Please take the precautions listed below to help ensure your auto is not targeted by thieves:

Keep Your Valuables Out of Sight

The best way to prevent theft from your auto is to always keep valuables out of sight. Never leave cell phones, briefcases, suitcases, or electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, laptop computers, etc.) in your car in plain view. Take these items with you, or secure them—all the time, every time.

Secure Your GPS Device

While many GPS devices are mounted in the dashboard of the vehicle, the Mount Juliet Police Department encourages anyone who uses a portable GPS device to take it with you, along with any other items of value, when you park the car, or secure it in the trunk.  Remember a GPS Device mounted on the front windshield of a parked vehicle, home or away, is a visible advertisement for a thief.

Use Your Trunk

If your car has a trunk, use it. Put valuables in there or in a locked glove compartment. Hiding items under seats is better than leaving them in plain view, but securing them inside the glove compartment or trunk is a far better deterrent.  Remember, thieves are lazy, the longer it takes to enter a vehicle or trunk the better deterrent. 

Don't Tempt Thieves with New Purchases

During the holiday season especially, or any time you’re shopping, place packages in the trunk, not on the passenger seats or floors.

Remove Your Radio Faceplate

If you can unfasten your sound system and take it with you, or lock it in your trunk, do so. And don’t forget to do the same with your CDs.

Lock It Up

Also, keep your car doors and windows locked—all the time!  The Police Department has taken many a report where the vehicle was parked in the driveway, unlocked.  

For more tips on specific theft prevention topics use your computer's search to look for burglary safety tips.

Did you know?

Summer is in full swing and our children are also. As a parent I know it is never just this or that, it is a 24/7/365 constant task.  90% is worry the rest can be dealt with.  I have included a few summer facts and a link that is very informative for the summer.  A special thanks to the Shriner's Hospital web site and Safekids.org.

STAY SAFE.

40 percent of all injury-related emergency room visits and 42 percent of all injury-related deaths happen between May and August. 

Every year one in four kids ages 14 and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. 

The good news is that many of these injuries may be preventable by following some simple tips and learning how to avoid accidents and injuries.

* Safe Kids Worldwide, www.safekids.org.

Drive with care

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death and acquired disability for children and teens. These tips can help you and your children to stay out of harm’s way while in or around vehicles.

• Teach your children to buckle up, every time they get into a car, regardless of the length of the car ride. Buckling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats and seat belts dramatically reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries.
• Check around your parked car for children before you pull away. Teach children to be aware of moving vehicles and to wait in safe areas where drivers can see them.
• Accompany young children when they get in and out of a vehicle. Hold their hands when walking near moving vehicles, in driveways and parking lots.

Mowing matters

While it may seem like just a common household tool, thousands of children are injured in lawn mower accidents each year, some with severe effects. For 14 year-old Brendon Wiseley, Shriners Hospitals for Children Patient Ambassador and fifth generation race car driver, the importance of summer safety is a topic that hits close to home. At the age of 7, Wiseley lost his foot and part of his leg in a lawn mower accident.

Wiseley was referred to Shriners Hospitals for Children when his first prosthetic leg did not fit correctly and was difficult to use, causing him to lose hope of ever racing again. With an experienced team of medical experts, he was provided with a custom-built prosthetic and child-centric rehabilitation that not only rebuilt his strength, but also his spirit.

“I was injured in a lawn mower accident. Thanks to Shriners Hospitals for Children, I was able to get back to doing what I love,” said Wiseley. “It is important to remember to stay safe when doing any kind of outdoor activity.”

He offers up these additional tips to help families stay safe during warmer weather months:

• Teach children to never play on or around a lawn mower, even when it is not in use. They should never be permitted to walk along side, in front of or behind a moving mower.
• Children under six years of age should be kept inside the home while mowing.

To download our printable Lawnmower Safety Tips Card, click here.

Fire safety simplified

Every hour, approximately 16 children are injured from fires or burns, according to the Safe Kids Worldwide organization. Use these tips to keep your little ones safe around fireworks, grills and other heat sources:

• Teach kids never to play with matches, gasoline, lighter fluid or lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.
• Do not leave children unattended near grills, campfires, fire pits or bonfires. Always have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby when burning fires.
• To ensure a safe celebration, leave fireworks to the professionals.
• If your child is injured by fire or fireworks, immediately take them to a doctor or hospital.

Playground 101

The Centers for Disease Control revealed that emergency departments treat more than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger for playground-related injuries every year. Before you let them play at the park or school playground, be sure they keep these precautions in mind:

• Use appropriate and properly fitting safety equipment when participating in any sport, such as helmets and goggles, which can greatly reduce the risk of head and eye injuries.
• Take your children to playgrounds with shock absorbing surfaces. Choose parks and playgrounds that are appropriate for their age. Check for hazards or broken equipment and continuously supervise your children while they are at play.
• Teach children to use playground and sports equipment properly.
• Remind children that pushing, shoving and crowding on the playground can result in accidents and injuries.

Make a safe splash

While playing poolside may be a blast, the Safe Kids Worldwide organization also revealed that drowning is the leading injury-related cause of death for children between 1-4 years of age. Fill your family’s summer days with these safe practices around the water:

• Teach children to never go near or in the water without an adult present. Children and adults should never swim alone.
• Give children your undivided attention when they are swimming or near any body of water.
• Always have your children wear a Coast Guard approved, properly fitting life jacket while on a boat, around an open body of water or when participating in water sports.

To support Shriners Hospitals for Children, visit www.lovetotherescue.org.

Each year more than 2,500 people die and 12,600 are injured in home fires in the United States, with direct property loss due to home fires estimated at $7.3 billion annually.  Home fires can be prevented!  Grilling on a balcony can be one of the most common causes of apartment fires.  Many apartment management companies have written in your rental lease that grilling on a balcony is prohibited.  NEVER leave a grill while it is in operation and NEVER leave any type of fire unattended!

Before a Fire

CREATE AND PRACTICE A FIRE ESCAPE PLAN

In the event of a fire, remember that every second counts, so you and your family must always be prepared. Escape plans help you get out of your home quickly.

Twice each year, practice your home fire escape plan.  Some tips to consider when preparing this plan include:

• Find two ways to get out of each room.
• If the primary way is blocked by fire or smoke, you will need a second way out. A secondary route might be a window onto a neighboring roof or a collapsible ladder for escape from upper story windows.
• Only purchase collapsible ladders evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory (UL).
• Make sure that windows are not stuck, screens can be taken out quickly, and that security bars can be properly opened.
• Practice feeling your way out of the house in the dark or with your eyes closed.
• Windows and doors with security bars must have quick release devices to allow them to be opened immediately in an emergency. Make sure everyone in the family understands and practices how to properly operate and open locked or barred doors and windows.
• Teach children not to hide from firefighters.

Smoke Alarms

A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm is the only thing in your home that can alert you and your family to a fire 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

• Install both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors
• Test batteries monthly.
• Replace batteries in battery-powered and hard-wired smoke alarms at least once a year (except non-replaceable 10-year lithium batteries)
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends installing smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions when installing smoke alarms.
• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 8-10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.
• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake. Open a window or door and press the “hush” button, wave a towel at the alarm to clear the air, or move the entire alarm several feet away from the location.

Smoke Alarm Safety People with Access or Functional Need

• Caregivers are encouraged to check the smoke alarms of those who are unable to do it themselves.
• Audible alarms for visually impaired people should pause with a small window of silence between each successive cycle so that they can listen to instructions or voices of others.
• Smoke alarms with a vibrating pad or flashing light are available for the hearing impaired. Contact your local fire department for information about obtaining a flashing or vibrating smoke alarm.
• Smoke alarms with a strobe light outside the home to catch the attention of neighbors, and emergency call systems for summoning help, are also available.

More Fire Safety Tips

• Sleep with your door closed.
• Only those trained in the proper use and maintenance of fire extinguishers should consider using them when appropriate.  Contact your local fire department for information on training in your area and what kind to buy for your home.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your residence.
• Ask your local fire department to inspect your residence for fire safety and prevention.

During a Fire

• Crawl low under any smoke to your exit - heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.
• When the smoke alarm sounds, get out fast. You may have only seconds to escape safely.
• If there is smoke blocking your door or first way out, use your second way out.
• Smoke is toxic. If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your way out.
• Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, leave the door closed and use your second way out.
• If there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out.
• If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.
• If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 9-1-1 or the fire department. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.
• If pets are trapped inside your home, tell firefighters right away.
• If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out.  Call 9-1-1 or your fire department. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.
• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll – stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands.  Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out.  If you or someone else cannot stop, drop, and roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel.  Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for 3 to 5 minutes.  Cover with a clean, dry cloth.  Get medical help right away by calling 9-1-1 or the fire department.

Escaping the Fire

• Make sure windows are not nailed or painted shut. Make sure security gratings on windows have a fire safety opening feature so they can be easily opened from the inside.
• Consider escape ladders if your residence has more than one level, and ensure that burglar bars and other antitheft mechanisms that block outside window entry are easily opened from the inside.
• Teach family members to stay low to the floor (where the air is safer in a fire) when escaping from a fire.
• Clean out storage areas. Do not let trash such as old newspapers and magazines accumulate.

Fire Escape Planning for Older Adults and People Access or Functional Needs

• Live near an exit. You'll be safest on the ground floor if you live in an apartment building. If you live in a multi-story home, arrange to sleep on the ground floor, and near an exit.
• If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure you get through the doorways.
• Make any necessary accommodations, such as providing exit ramps and widening doorways, to facilitate an emergency escape.
• Speak to your family members, building manager, or neighbors about your fire safety plan and practice it with them.
• Contact your local fire department's non-emergency line and explain your special needs. Ask emergency providers to keep your special needs information on file.
• Keep a phone near your bed and be ready to call 911 or your local emergency number if a fire occurs.

LAWN MOWERS, EDGERS, AND MORE: SAFETY TIPS

Ever heard the saying "Be careful what you wish for?" Well, we wished for it and now we have it, that part of the season that is warm and as comfortable as we allow it to get.  The off-set is that our yard and everything that grows loves it too.  I just finished mowing my yard and I had forgotten how long it took and the unseen holes, rocks, tree limbs and anything else that can fall from the sky, to run over.

With that said I went to several sites looking for a combination of safety tips that I could learn from and also pass on:

·        Wear sturdy shoes while mowing.

·        Prevent injuries from flying objects, such as stones or toys, by picking up objects from the lawn before mowing begins. (Remember the riding lawn mower is not a chipper and will throw large objects, especially tree limbs quite a distance, but that is another story.)

·        While the lawn is being mowed, keep others away to ensure their safety.

·        Do not allow children to operate lawn mowers. A good rule: If you're not comfortable with them driving your automobile, you should not allow them to operate a lawn mower - whether it's a walk-behind or riding mower.

Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers

·        Mow across a hill (not up and down) to avoid falls. Do not mow on a steep hill.

·        Keep the mower flat on the ground. Never lift the mower.

·        Shut off engine when adjusting mower height.

·        If you hit something, stop the mower and turn it off. See if the mower is damaged before starting the machine.

Standard Safety Feature: Operator Presence Control (OPC) ensures that the blade comes to a complete stop within three seconds after the blade control is released.

Help The Environment: Mowers equipped with a mulching feature will finely cut and re-cut grass clippings and return them to the turf. These clippings provide moisture and nutrients to keep your yard greener and healthier, and

  

Riding Mowers

Riding mowers are one-person machines. Never carry passengers or tow children in carts or trailers while mowing. (Remember that country song about drinking and driving a riding lawn mower, not a good idea. You could end up with a DUI on your record if you are on a public street and I can just imagine the looks when you tell that story! I have been in court, prosecuting another case, when I saw a man plead guilty to DUI on a lawn mower.)

·        Always start the machine from the operator's seat.

·        Mow up and down on slopes over 5 degrees - never across.

·        Go slowly on hills and around corners to prevent tipping.

·        Never operate a riding mower on slopes over 15 degrees.

·        Always look down and behind for people and objects before, and while, backing up.

·        Do not allow a child to operate a riding mower (see above).

·        Watch for holes, ditches and embankments.

Standard Safety Feature: Operator Presence Control (OPC) automatically stops the engine and powered attachments when the operator leaves the seat

Leaf Blowers Hand-Held And Backpack:

·        Never point the blower nozzle at people or pets.

·        Follow local ordinances about when to use a leaf blower. Do not use very early in the morning or very late in the day.

·        Use the lowest possible throttle speed.

Chain Saws
2-Cycle And Low Emission 4-Cycle

 (There is no mixing of oil and gas on a 4 cycle):

·        Make sure the saw chain is not touching anything before starting the engine and the chain is tightened to manufacturer's specifications.

·        Check to see if the bar chain oil reserve is full.

·        Do not operate a chain saw with one hand! You need to use two hands.

·        Shut off the engine before setting the chain saw down.

  

Edger / Trimmers
Wheeled And Walk Behind:

·        Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts while engine is running.

·        Stop the engine when crossing gravel or any place where thrown objects might be a hazard.

·        Do not over speed the engine.

·        If you hit an object, stop the engine immediately. Turn it off and check for damage. Repair anything before restarting.

Garden Tillers Front-Tine And Rear Tine:

·        If you hit an object, stop the tiller immediately. Turn it off and check for damage. Repair anything before starting up.

·        Keep hands and feet away from rotating parts while engine is running.

·        Stop the engine when crossing gravel or any place where thrown objects might be a hazard.

.

From Ready.gov

Before a Tornado

• To begin preparing, you should build an emergency kit and make a family communications plan.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or to commercial radio or television newscasts for the latest information. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials. Listen for the siren warning system.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions. Look for approaching storms.
• Look for the following danger signs:
• Dark, often greenish sky
  • Large hail
  • A large, dark, low-lying cloud (particularly if rotating)
  • Loud roar, similar to a freight train.
  • If you see approaching storms or any of the danger signs, be prepared to take shelter immediately.

Tornado Facts

Quick facts you should know about tornadoes:

• They may strike quickly, with little or no warning.
• They may appear nearly transparent until dust and debris are picked up or a cloud forms in the funnel.
• The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move in any direction.
• The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
• Tornadoes can accompany tropical storms and hurricanes as they move onto land.
• Waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water.
• Tornadoes are most frequently reported east of the Rocky Mountains during spring and summer months.
• Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is late spring through early summer.
• Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 pm and 9 pm, but can occur at any time.

Know the Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a tornado hazard:

Tornado Watch - Tornadoes are possible. Remain alert for approaching storms. Watch the sky and stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio or television for information.

Tornado Warning - A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Take shelter immediately.

During a Tornado

If you are under a tornado warning, seek shelter immediately!  Most injuries associated with high winds are from flying debris, so remember to protect your head.

IF YOU ARE IN:	THEN:
A structure (e.g. residence, small building, school, nursing home, hospital, factory, shopping center, high-rise building)	Go to a pre-designated area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of a small interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. In a high-rise building, go to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor possible. Put on sturdy shoes. Do not open windows.
A manufactured home or office	Get out immediately and go to a pre-identified location such as the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.
The outside with no shelter	Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter. If your vehicle is hit by flying debris while you are driving, pull over and park. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows; cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other cushion if possible. If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, leave your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Never try to outrun a tornado in urban or congested areas in a car or truck. Instead, leave the vehicle immediately for safe shelter. Watch out for flying debris. Flying debris from tornadoes causes most fatalities and injuries.

After spending the weekend checking off tasks that were on my list, my wife and I went out for a nice afternoon drive.  There were quite a few bikes on the road with users of all ages.  I even saw one with training wheels attached on a side street.  I went to a web site, link included, to see what everyone should already know.  Besides all the facts I found, one must realize that bikes are considered a non-motorized vehicle and must obey all traffic signals.  Vehicle drivers must also be aware of their presence and the bike lanes throughout the city.  

Bike

There are so many great reasons to ride your bike: It offers fun, freedom and exercise, and it's good for the environment. We want kids and families to ride their bikes as much as possible. Here are a few tips so that you'll be safe while you do so.

The Hard Facts

More children ages 5 to 14 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries related to biking than any other sport. Helmets can reduce the risk of severe brain injuries by 88 percent – yet only 45 percent of children 14 and under usually wear a bike helmet.

Top Tips

• We have a simple saying: "Use your head, wear a helmet." It is the single most effective safety device available to reduce head injury and death from bicycle crashes.
• Tell your kids to ride on the right side of the road, with traffic, not against it. Stay as far to the right as possible. Use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic signals, stopping at all stop signs and stoplights.
• Teach your kids to make eye contact with drivers. Bikers should make sure drivers are paying attention and are going to stop before they cross the street.
• When riding at dusk, dawn or in the evening, be bright and use lights – and make sure your bike has reflectors as well. It's also smart to wear clothes and accessories that have retro-reflective materials to improve biker visibility to motorists.
• Actively supervise children until you're comfortable that they are responsible to ride on their own.

- See more at: http://www.safekids.org/bike#sthash.lAJTgg9z.dpuf

Motorcycles

Last weekend I noticed a lot more motorcycle riders on our streets. We need to take the time to notice motorcycles and their limitations when we are driving full sized vehicles. Did you know the following:

This is a list of numbers of motorcycle deaths in U.S. by year from 1994 to 2010. United States motorcycle fatalities increased every year for 11 years since reaching a historic low of 2,116 fatalities in 1997, until a decline in 2009. In nine years motorcycle deaths more than doubled.

From 1980 motorcycle ownership among riders aged 40 and over increased dramatically, from 15.1 percent of all riders in 1980 to 43.7 percent in 1998. The mean engine displacement of the motorcycles involved in fatal crashes also increased, from an average engine size of 769 cc (46.9 cu in) in 1990, to 959 cc (58.5 cu in) in 2001, an increase of 24.7 percent. It has been suggested that the combination of older riders on higher-powered motorcycles might have been partially responsible for the increase in motorcycle deaths from the late 1990s until 2004.

Half of motorcycle fatalities in single vehicle crashes relate to problems negotiating a curve prior to a crash—almost 60 percent of motorcyclist fatalities in single-vehicle crashes occur at night.

In 2009 motorcycle fatalities in the US declined for the first time in 11 years. The yearly total dropped from 5,312 to 4,469. Automobile fatalities continued to decline for the seventh straight year. A decline in recreational motorcycling due to the late-2000s recession might account for the decrease in accidents, according to the authors of a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), but a state motorcyclists' rights organization, the Motorcycle Riders Foundation, said motorcycle use appeared to have increased, influenced by motorcycles' better fuel economy. A preliminary report by the GHSA estimated that the number of motorcyclist deaths in 2012 was more than 5,000, a 9% increase over 2011.

Annual U.S. motorcycle deaths

Year	Deaths
1994	2,320
1995	2,227
1996	2,161
1997	2,116
1998	2,294
1999	2,483
2000	2,897
2001	3,197†
2002	3,244
2003	3,661‡
2004	4,028
2005	4,576
2006	4,837
2007	5,174
2008	5,312
2009	4,462
2010	4,502
2011	4,612
† some NHTSA lists show 3,181 ‡ some NHTSA lists show 3,714

 Motorcycle riders need to have the following:

Items of Personal Protection Equipment

A full-face helmet credited for saving its user.

Half helmets or "skid lids" meet minimum legal requirements.

• Helmet — A full-face helmet provides the most protection. Thirty-five percent of all crashes show major impact on the chin-bar area. However, 3/4- and 1/2-helmets also are available. Some motorcycle training sites have banned the use of half-helmets because of avoidable injuries sustained by riders wearing them.
• Gloves — Commonly made of leather, cordura, or Kevlar, or some combination. Some include carbon fiber knuckle protection or other forms of rigid padding. Gloves designed specifically for motorcycle use have slightly curved fingers and the seams are on the outer surfaces to allow the motorcyclist to maintain his grip and control on the handlebars and clutch/brake levers. Some gloves also provide protection to the wrist.
• Jackets — Generally made from leather, ballistic nylon, cordura, Kevlar or other synthetics. Most jackets include special padding on elbows, spine and shoulders. Airbag system technology is now available fitted to jackets and vests for accident protection and impact protection for both riders and pillions. Competition-approved hard armor is superior to soft padding. Competition-approved back and chest protectors can be worn underneath jackets. Inflatable airbag jackets can offer an additional airbag for neck support.
• Pants — Made of the same material as jackets, usually including special protection for the knees and hips.
• Boots — Especially those for sport riding, include reinforcement and plastic caps on the ankles, and toe area. Boots designed for cruiser-style riders often have steel-reinforced toes (However this reduces sensitivity of the foot when changing gear). Boots should always have a rubber sole (as opposed to leather or other less flexible materials). Despite their toughness and protection, most boots are very lightweight. Some even include titanium plating.
• Goggles or Helmet Visor — Eye protection is of utmost importance - an insect or a kicked-up pebble in the eye at speed has enough momentum to cause significant damage. Such an event could easily cause the rider to lose control and crash. Besides this danger, squinting into the wind is unpleasant at best and watering eyes are quite distracting.
• Ear plugs — Most riders experience substantial wind noise at speeds above 40 to 50 mph (64 to 80 km/h). Ear plugs help protect against hearing damage, and reduce fatigue during long rides.
• Vests — Made with high-visibility colors and retroreflective materials, vests can be worn over jackets to increase the chance of being seen and allow drivers to better judge the speed and position of riders, especially in adverse conditions of dark and wet.
• Other PPE — Dirt bike riders wear a range of plastic armor to protect against injury from falling and hitting other riders and bikes, running into track barriers, and being hit by flying debris kicked up by the tires of other riders' bikes. This type of armor typically covers the back, chest, and sometimes the extremities.

It is increasingly common for gloves, jackets, pants, and boots to be outfitted with hard plastics on probable contact areas in an effort to ensure that when a motorcyclist contacts the ground, his clothing will permit him to slide relatively easily as opposed to "crumpling", risking injury to body parts being stressed in abnormal directions.

Since the first line of protection in crash contact is the outer shell of clothing, designers have moved that further from the body. The ultimate protective shell so far is an airbag that stays with the driver as he flies off the bike. However, increasing use of "exoskeleton" plastic shields attached to clothing points toward design of a complete roll bar belted to the driver. A near-stage design is a plastic or light alloy double "wheel" perimeter rim around the driver, over his head and in front and behind him. When the driver unbelts himself and gets off the bike, he leaves the wheel roll bar with the bike. But when the driver flies off the bike, the roll bar flies with him and makes contact with hard surfaces. The driver is relatively safe from contact, belted within a contact rim extending out around him.

Riders sometimes use the acronyms MOTGMOTT and ATGATT, which stand for "Most Of The Gear Most Of The Time" and "All The Gear All The Time", when describing their personal gear preferences.