Blog Archive: January 2017
Jan. 30
No parent should ever have to lose a child. But when that child dies in a preventable manner, it’s especially heartbreaking. Just ask Denice Johnson: Her son Jared died Jan. 17, 2016, of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while ice fishing. It was the worst day of her life, and she doesn’t want anyone ever to have to go through the pain and heartache she and her family are experiencing.
Jan. 26
If you’re the parent of school-aged children, you likely know the routine of watching their too-large backpacks disappear around the corner as they climb onto their school bus, only to see their faces reappear again in the window. Maybe, if it doesn’t embarrass them too much, you blow kisses. Maybe it’s just a tiny wave goodbye. No matter the routine, you’ve likely spent a slightly panicky moment or two worried about their safety as they get on or off the bus and ride to and from school.
Jan. 23
Hopefully, when you think about driving in severe weather, you think about how dangerous it could be for you. But do you ever think about how dangerous it is for State Troopers and first responders? After all, if conditions are looking that bad, you can always stay home, safe and cozy. But the Minnesota State Patrol has to be out there no matter what, making sure the rest of us are safe. And that comes with its own risks.
It’s probably happened to you: You’re driving down the highway, obeying the speed limit and keeping an eye on your blind spots, when someone comes along and cuts you off without using their turn signal. Unfortunately, aggressive drivers are as much a part of driving as seat belts and stop signs. But you can learn to recognize aggressive drivers early on and deal with them safely.
Jan. 12
If you’ve ever bought a vehicle, you know how gratifying it can be to find the perfect deal. Maybe you’ve been keeping an eye on Craigslist for months in hopes that the perfect car will show up…and then one day, there it is! The exact make and model you want. It’s a little older than you’d prefer, but the mileage is pretty low.
Jan. 9
Did you know that over 224,000 people follow the Department of Public Safety (DPS) on social media? If you’re not one of them, you could change that right now. Our followers receive important DPS information through our multiple Twitter and Facebook accounts. Nine DPS divisions have both Facebook pages and Twitter accounts – and the tweets aren’t just by humans. We have an explosives-detecting K-9 officer at the Minnesota Capitol who has her own Twitter account!
Jan. 5
The preliminary motorcycle safety numbers are in for 2016, and they show that 53 motorcyclists were killed last year. And although even one is too many, the new statistics are encouraging, considering the 61 motorcycle fatalities in 2015. That’s a 13 percent improvement. And 1980 saw the record for most motorcycle fatalities at 121, making 2016 a 56 percent improvement over that year.
