College Drinking: The Do's and Don'ts

With it being Friday and the weekend about to begin, I would like to share a post on drinking. Drinking is a shared pastime and activity for college students all over the country. As a college senior, I have heard almost every trick in the book of how to "sober up" and over the years, I have realized that many college students are unaware of what exactly alcohol does to the body, and are misinformed on how to sober up.

What Does Intoxicated Mean?

Alcohol affects the brain, which is the Central Nervous System of the body. It is also a depressant, so when consumed, alcohol suppresses nerve cells, slowing them down. A person that is intoxicated has had an excess of alcoholic drinks, and has lost control of basic motor skills and balance. This is why intoxicated persons are so easy to point out since they have slower reaction times, dulled hearing, and impaired vision. Also the reason why such persons tend to make bad decisions and have foggy memories.

Common Myths of How to Sober Up:

• Take a cold shower
• Drink black coffee
• Smoke a cigarette
• Get fresh air
• Drink water
• Eat food
• Exercise

NOTE: None of these will make an intoxicated person sober. 

Time

Time is a magical thing, and is also the ONLY thing that will make an intoxicated person sober. You should also use it as a basis to determine your driving capability. Usually, it takes 1 hour for your body to process one drink. One drink means 1 12oz beer, 1 glass of wine, or 1 1.5oz shot of
liquor. Remember that different people process alcohol differently. It is also scientifically proved that men process alcohol differently than women. NEVER try to compete with someone.

Stay safe and have a great weekend! 

New Marketing Intern at Florida Safety Council

Hello!


My name is Julia Clancy, I am the newest marketing intern at Florida Safety Council. I look forward to sharing posts that are relevant to safety and my everyday life as a college student! My first post was Driving Under The Influence-Don't Do It! I am currently a senior at Rollins College, pursuing a degree in communications with a concentration in Public Relations, and a minor in chemistry. I am new to Orlando, originally from the DC area. A lot of people ask me what I miss most about home and I always say autumn, but really nothing beats the sunshine and eighty degree weather. This position was intriguing for me because not only does it include my interests in marketing and PR, but also general safety practices and regulations!


Hope you enjoy,

Julia

Driving Under The Influence–Don't Do It!

According to the CDC, young people aged 21-24 are most at risk for getting into a DUI related crash. With colleges back in session, it is essential for students to remember what qualifies as driving under the influence, and how to take prompt action in order to prevent it. What exactly is driving under the influence? In the state of Florida, you are legally impaired if you have a BAC of .08% or higher. However, DUIs are not just alcohol related, but also drug.
 Police officers have devices and methods to determine whether  someone is impaired. They can use breathalyzers to get a reading of your BAC, or observe behavior, looking for red eyes and slurred speech. They can also conduct field sobriety tests that test a driver's motor skills and balance, such as standing on one leg or reciting the alphabet backwards. To avoid the embarrassment of getting pulled over and performing these tests, there are simple things college students can do–one of them being as easy as not getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or drugs! 

Simple Ways to Prevent Getting a DUI:

• If you feel intoxicated, DO NOT drive
• Choose a designated driver before going out
• Take a taxi–the fare may seem like a lot, but is significantly less than a DUI fine! 
• Limit alcohol consumption and wait the appropriate amount of time before driving
• Carry a portable breathalyzer

Join the Movement

Join the Movement to End Texting and Driving

Drivers who read or send texts while behind the wheel are more likely to cause crashes – often leading to life changing injuries and deaths. To put an end to texting and driving, AT&T launched the It Can Wait campaign, which Florida/United Safety Council is proud to be a part of.

We’re excited to help take the It Can Wait movement one step further with “Drive 4 Pledges Day” on September 19, 2013. On this day, It Can Wait advocates will be asking every driver to join us in making a personal commitment not to text and drive – and recruiting others to do the same. To succeed in making texting and driving a thing of the past, we’re going to need everybody’s help. 

There are many easy ways to get involved. Once you take the pledge online, ask four other people to vow never to text and drive, or simply share your pledge and what it means to you through your social media channels.

Here is a sample post:

·      No text is worth a life. Join me and @ATT to Drive 4 Pledges against texting while driving. soc.att.com/15W2Ust #ItCanWait

               

For more ideas on how to get involved and information about texting and driving, visit ItCanWait.com.

Driving Personalities Behind the Wheel!

We all have our “moments” behind the wheel; 

which driving style do you impersonate the most? 

Driving Personality 1:

- Guilty of eating fast food while on the road, you can’t wait another second to eat those nuggets!   

- You’re a social butterfly, talking on the phone is a must for those long car rides.  

- In your car you’re always ready for your “close-up”; you do your best work in the rear-view mirror.

 Driving Personality 2: 
- Merge, Smerge.... They can get out of your way!

- Driving under the speed limit doesn't bother you, just everyone else. After all, you don’t know where you’re going! 

   

- You miss your exit, and instead of taking the next one, you pull over and reverse back.    

- Turn signal? What’s that?  

 Driving Personality 3: 

- A speed limit is a guideline... “70 mph” to them means “80 mph” to me.

- I look at the road like a race, passing cars till I reach 1st place.

- If you’re in front of me and only going 5mph over, I’ll speed around you to do 7mph over.  

Driving Personality 4:

-I’m late to work; stop signs mean “roll” signs to me!

- When I’m running behind, I have the right away in every situation.

- I turn my blinker on, but the other car won’t let me in, so I move over anyways.

  

Driving Personality 5: 

- Driving is not my thing... I’m very cautious on the road.

- I don’t like to make the first move... when it comes to driving. I’ll let everyone else pass me.

- My foot proudly stays right over the brake! I’m not trying to get into an accident today, or any day!

- My Mom said turn right... but I think I’m supposed to go left? Should I get off here? ....Where are we going again?

Tips On How to Improve Your Driving Style!

Driving Personality 1: 

If your traits are similar to the ones above, then you are most like “The Multi-Tasker”

Ways to Improve:

• Leave 10-15 minutes before if you need to stop and get food! That way you can eat there instead of on the road, and your car doesn’t get dirty with ketchup or taco sauce, bonus!
• Instead of talking to your friends for long car rides, make a couple mixtape CD’s that will keep you busy listening to the lyrics!
• Do your makeup at home, or when you get to the office, so your eyes stay on the road.

Driving Personality 2: 

Finding yourself in these situations? You’re suffering from “Lost Tourist Syndrome”

Ways to Improve:

• When merging into lanes, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to make the switch, so you’re not rushing over to your exit from three lanes of traffic.
• When driving under the speed limit, stay to the right! The left lane is specifically used for the “fast” drivers, so it’s really dangerous to be doing 5 under, when they’re doing the speed limit, and more! A new law has been passed for drivers who are going under the speed limit in this lane, and can result in a ticket. Click Here for more info!
• Using your turning signal can save you from being in an accident! If another driver doesn’t see your signal, they may merge into the same lane you’re going into, and then collide with each other.

Driving Personality 3: 

If the need for speed is on your side, you’re definitely a “Led Foot Larry”

Ways to Improve:

• If you have to speed, you’re running late. Simply leave your house 10 minutes earlier, and you’ll won’t have to! This also saves you gas money from revving your engine less.
• Don’t be the person that cuts people off just to do the same speed limit in front of them, be patient and save yourself an accident. 

Driving Personality 4:

You need to slow down! You’re driving style is “In a Hurry”

Ways to Improve:

• Rolling through a stop sign can not only result in a ticket, but can also cause a collision! Red light cameras are also catching onto this trend of “rolling” through a red light to turn right on red. Make a full and complete STOP to avoid a ticket, and an accident.
• If you’re always running behind in the morning, resulting in crazy driving stunts to get there, try this tip; set your clocks in your house 10 minutes ahead of time. You’ll eventually forget you did, and once you’re in your car, you’ll see you have extra time!
• You can’t change how other people drive, especially when you’re trying to get in front of them. As annoying as they can be, make sure you’re in the lane you need to be in way before you have to be in it, that way, you’re not scrambling to get into the lane, and not cramming yourself in between two other vehicles (who probably don’t want you there).

Driving Personality 5:

Chances are you’re a little scaredy cat on the road... you’re relateable to “The Intimidated Driver”.

Ways to Improve:

• When you’re nervous on the road and hover over the break, it’s confusing to other drivers, because they’re not sure what move you’re going to make. I suggest you use a GPS, so you know exactly where to go, and don’t have to second guess yourself.
• Don’t be afraid to get on the highway, get up to speed with the other drivers, and then merge over using your blinker. More often than not, when a driver approaches an in-ramp to the highway, they will move over so others can get in. Be confident! Not cautious.

How to avoid bad car accidents!

Traffic Jams.... 

          Welcome back! As you read in my last post, I commute from Daytona to Orlando twice a week for my internship. I also do this during the school semester, so I spend a lot of time driving and being on the road... And although it has its perks (such as singing "Wild One's" by Sia really, really loud...) it does have some of it's downfalls.

Last week I got stuck in a traffic jam on my way to the Florida Safety Council. It took me TWO HOURS to get to work, when it normally takes me just over an hour to get here. I've come to realize that I-4 is notorious for it's awful traffic. With millions of visitors coming here every year, I can imagine why... however, a lot of people aren't paying attention when the traffic is starting to slow down, and is creating MORE accidents in the midst of it all! I'm not looking to get rear-ended (again...) so here's my rant for the week;

When on a busy highway or street, such as I-4, it's best to keep a safe distance away from the car in front of you. So if they do slam on you're breaks, you'll have enough time to react to the car slowing down! I always try to keep a safe distance away, and then two more cars will jump in front of me, leaving no space cushion in the event of an accident. If the leading car were to slam on it's brakes? All 4 of us would be in a collision... And I'm not looking to break my legs anytime soon :) The rule is count "One 1000, Two 1000" when you're behind a car, please utilize this little trick to keep you and you're car safe!


Secondly, PAY ATTENTION! These drivers are on their phone, listening to the radio, talking to their fellow passengers, and coming to a sudden stop, almost running into the car in front of them! This is a serious matter. When your'e not paying attention, you're endangering the drivers around you, and yourself! So don't be selfish, just pay attention... please!

I hope to see the roads a little more clearly now after this post, spread the word! And be safe :)

Meet the newest Intern at FSC! :)

Hello there!

My name is Brittany Moore, and I'm the newest Intern at Florida Safety Council! I look forward to utilizing this to speak on topics that are concerning to me in my every day life.

A little about myself, I live in Daytona Beach, Florida. Roughly an hour from where I'm interning. I commute twice a week to my internship, here, at the FSC! So far I'm really happy with where I work, and the projects I get to work on, but the traffic could use some improvement on I-4.... *sigh*.

Currently I'm working on different projects; such as our newsletters and event planning! We have a luncheon coming up that I will be attending on Emergency Preparedness in the community! And an OSHA representative will be there to speak on the subject! If you'd like to come, and you're in the Orlando area, email me for more information, and I'll post the pretty little flyer I made so you can see my work!

If you haven't already, you should subscribe via email to our monthly newsletters! Look at the website for more information at occsafety.com/safety-newsletter.asp ! This is what I will be focusing on here at the FSC.

If you have any topics you'd like me to discuss, then feel free to email me! I'll look into it further and see what I can do as far as answering your concerns and improving the safety in our world. :)


And now; our beautiful luncheon flyer! Made by moi! I bet it makes you hungry :)