NHS Promotes Safety
by Dawn Moser
National Honor Society members conducted seat belt checks
leading in to the high school parking lot the last two weeks. The
first check was done on October 2. Students, parents, and staff who
were wearing safety belts were given stickers indicating they
buckled up. After totaling the numbers, 63% of drivers were buckled
up and only 41% of front seat passengers were wearing their safety
belts.
In an effort to educate everyone about the importance of wearing
safety belts, students and staff in grades four through twelve
attended a safety demonstration put on by the State Patrol. Srgt.
Bybee and Srgt. Tobee conducted a 20 minute
demonstration/discussion for each grade, showing the consequences
of what could happen if one is not buckled up. Students and staff
saw the roll-over demo where the shell of a truck rolled on an axis
at approximately 35 m.p.h. Srgt. Bybee demonstrated it several
times, some with safety belts on and others with the belts not
fastened. The roll-over demo also showed what happens to book bags,
grocery sacks, etc. during a roll-over; groups discovered that the
trunk is the best place for those items as they can severely injure
people in a crash. Srgt. Bybee and Tobee also conducted community
demonstrations prior to the Homecoming football game. Not only did
they demonstrate the roll-over but they also brought along the seat
belt convincer. This is a device that participants can actually
ride. A person sits on the seat, securely buckled behind the safety
belt, and experiences a crash between 5-7 m.p.h.
After the demonstrations put on by the State Patrol, NHS students braved the cold and were hoping the second check would show increased safety belt usage. They conducted their second check October 9 and found the results to be slightly better. Sixty-seven percent of drivers and 50% of the front seat passengers were buckled up. Every vehicle received an air freshener with a “buckle up” reminder printed on it and those wearing their safety belts proudly sported a sticker indicating they buckled up.
National Honor Society members will conduct more safety belt checks throughout the course of the school year.
