Even though some of us think that travelling in a motor vehicle is safe for children, the truth is, car crashes is the leading cause of unintended death for many children aged 3 to 14 years old. Further, federal statistics show an increasing number of children who die from heat-stroke in parked cars.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 4 children (aged 14 years and under) are killed in car accidents every day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported that on the average, nearly 504 children suffer motor vehicle accident injuries each day.

With the oncoming celebration of the Child Safety Week on September 19 to 25, it is important to emphasize child safety in motor vehicles, such as proper use of child safety restraints like booster seats or even simple reminders on how dangerous it is to leave a child unattended inside the car.

Here are some tips to keep kids safe in your car and how you can prevent child injuries and death in motor vehicle accidents:

•    Educate your kids. Toddlers and young children tend to be inquisitive and some get overly excited when they see a car pull over in the drive way which may lead to back over accidents. It is important to teach them to keep away from vehicles and not play around cars. Likewise, teaching your child how to properly cross the street such as waiting for traffic lights and walking in crosswalks can help prevent collisions and accidents.

•    Know how to properly install child safety seats. Using age and size appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries by more than half. However, even if you strap a toddler in or have the appropriate child safety seats, it may not be enough especially since according to the NHTSA, a majority of these safety restraints are not correctly installed, as much as 75 percent. Visit the NHTSA website to learn about the proper installation of these child safety seats.

•    Parents should know what kind of safety restraints should be used on their child. As children grow older, there are different child safety seats and measures that should be applied. The NHTSA recommends booster seats for children until they are at least 8 years old or 4’9 tall. Further, all children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat.

•    Lastly, never leave your child especially babies unattended in a closed vehicle, even if you think you’ll only be gone for a minute. Children’s bodies overheat easily and infants and children under the age of 4 are the most at risk for heat-related illnesses which can lead directly to heat stroke and death.

As parents or even as guardians of children, it is important to prioritize their safety and well-being. Hopefully, the celebration of the Child Safety Week this Sept. 19 – 25 will serve as a timely reminder to everyone on motor vehicle accident deaths for children can be easily avoided by following the above-mentioned tips.

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The word is out!

Allstate Insurance Company has released its sixth annual “Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report”, identifying and ranking 200 major US cities in terms of driving safety and car collision frequency.

In its website release, “Sixth Annual ‘Allstate America’s Best Drivers Report’ Reveals New Safest Driving City”, the company honored Fort Collins, Colorado as “America’s Safest Driving City”, where a car collision occurs only every 14.5 years, or approximately 31 per cent less than the national average.

And who gets the credits for it? – The residents of Fort Collins, naturally.

Even city officials did not deny the fact that Fort Collins – a city with a population of only less than 150,000 – is more aware of driving safety practices than people in all other cities across the US.

But city Mayor Doug Hutchinson also cited other factors. He said becoming America’s safest driving city also takes having quality roads and infrastructure. “But more than anything else, it’s the result of individuals taking responsibility for keeping our streets safe, “he added.

This achievement is something that other cities must emulate. Even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does not miss in reminding people that that nearly 35,000 people die every year in fatal crashes and collisions.

Human error arising from negligence or recklessness has been identified as a major cause in many fatal car collisions. Other causes may include the following:

• Over speeding
• Distracted driving caused by cell phone use
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Traffic law violations
• Road rage
• External factors such as extreme weather conditions

If the Allstate Insurance report has any importance at all to people, especially motorists, it is that safe driving is honorable because it preserves lives.

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With more and more women making up the work force, there are just as many female employees who suffer gender discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse at the hands of employers, managers, or even colleagues. Some women suffer in silence, but for some, like the female employees of ABM Industries Inc, it’s time to stand up for their rights.

Following a lawsuit filed the by US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in behalf of 21 female workers for sexual assault and harassment, the national janitorial services company has decided to settle the suit.

The suit, which was filed in 2007 against ABM Industries Inc. and two subsidiaries, alleged that male supervisors sexually harassed the female employees for years. According to the EEOC, the supervisors exposed themselves to the female workers and engaged in unwelcome sexual conduct such as touching and groping them the women.

It was further disclosed by the EEOC that one of the errant supervisors was a registered sex offender and that at least one female employee has been raped at work.

Although ABM does not admit any fault in the allegations, it settled the case for $5.8 million to the 21 female workers.

Aside from the settlement, the company has been ordered to designate an equal employment monitor and set up a toll-free hotline for complaints.

Sexual harassment is one of the most common violations of employment rights. In fact, in 2009, the EEOC received as many as 12,696 filed by both female and male employees.

But sexual harassment or cases of it is not exactly cut and dried – what is prohibited by law is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

Simple teasing or offhand comments which are isolated incidents cannot be considered as sexual harassment. What is important is that the harassment based on one’s gender is so frequent and severe that it creates a hostile work environment. Any adverse employment decision such as getting fired or deprivation of benefits can also be a result of sexual harassment.

Victims of sexual harassment or gender discrimination, unless otherwise extended by their state laws, have 180 days to file a complaint. Time is of the essence so unless you want to tolerate or condone such abuse, filing a sexual harassment lawsuit or report with the EEOC should be done as soon as possible.

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