Join us on Saturday, October 8, 2011, for our annual El Cajon Fire Safety & Career Expo!

A big ”thank you” to our Title Sponsor “San Diego Gas & Electric” – and to our Community Sponsor “Mission Federal Credit Union!”

Location: 100 E. Lexington Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020 (south of Main Street @ Magnolia Avenue)

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

This event offers safety and health information for the entire family.  This year one of our highlights will be a “Teen Driving” section!  County teens are invited to talk with the experts on what it takes to be a SAFE driver.  We’ll again have disaster preparedness and fire safety information, with over 50 organizations on hand to offer vaulable information for your family!

Joining us in 2011

Heartland Fire & Rescue – El Cajon Fire Department

El Cajon Police Department

California Highway Patrol

Smokey Bear

East San Diego County Kiwanis – Annual “FREE” Safety Helmet Giveaway

Home Depot’s Kid’s Workshop

San Miguel Fire Safety Trailer

Office of Emergency Services

American Red Cross

CORE Self Defense

Coasty & the Coast Guard Auxiliary

Trauma Research Education Foundation (TREF)

San Diego County Sheriff’s Department

San Diego Gas & Electric

Food Sponsor – Rubio’s

If you would like to be one of our community vendors, or if you would like to be a community sponsor or in-kind food sponsor please contact Monica Zech at (619) 441-1737.

Having a home escape plan saved the family of a well known country singer, click on the following link:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/celebrity.news.gossip/06/05/trace.adkins.fire/index.html?iref=allsearch

On November 10, 2009, the Brown family’s teenage daughter died following a single car crash.  The investigation found she had been “texting” when she rolled her truck off the roadway.  As it rolled she was ejected through the front windshield.

Her parents started the “Remember Alex Brown Foundation” known as B.U.S.T. – Buckle Up & STOP Texting program.  Click on the following links for more information.

http://www.rememberalexbrownfoundation.org/foundation/index.php

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEiBVfvnR6c

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDKOiMSkLxY

Saving lives!

Yes – “distracted driving” is a nation-wide problem!  It injures and kills motorists and pedestrians every day!!! 

I talk about distracted driving in my driving safety lectures, but I’ve also been the victim of distracted drivers (3) times in my driving career.  First, I was hit by someone who flew into a parking where I was, while he was looking down at paperwork and talking on a cell phone – I was able to hit the gas and clear my drivers’ side to avoid certain death.  Second,  I was on a freeway - when a driver was busy looking to his right talking to his passenger and failed to notice stopped traffic ahead, he rear-ended traffic while jumping in front of me.  The third, and hopefully the last,  a motorist ran a STOP sign by “two” car lengths coming off a freeway to a surface street, she was in a hurry and busy talking to her young daughter, she looked to her right and “failed” to look to her left as I approached from her left side with the “right of way” – jumping into my path…”that” crash almost paralyzed me.  I’ve got the scar from my $65-thousand neck surgery as lasting proof… so “yes” I know this problem all too well.  (By the way my alertness and seat-belt saved me in all three incidents.)  But sadly, I also respond to these incidents almost daily as a spokesperson for a police and fire department!

Please take a look at the following two websites, the second is Oprah’s “NO PHONE ZONE” campaign – please take the pledge, and have your family, friends, school, workplace, and civic groups “take the pledge!”  It is a matter of Life and Death!

www.distraction.gov  

Take the pledge:

http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4

Thank you and stay safe!

Monica Zech

Safe Driving Educator

monicazech@cox.net

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Drive by the Rules.
Keep the Privilege.

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