Graduation- Drinking and Driving

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES!

 DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE.

With area graduations this weekend and next, parents, talk to your kids about the danger of drinking and driving.

Did you know:

More than one-third of youth under the age of 21 killed in alcohol-related fatalities in 2001 died during the months of April, May and June - prom and graduation season - according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2001 alone, 2,950 children under 21 died in alcohol-related traffic fatalities - 1,012 died during the months of April, May and June.

      So here is my thing with graduation...a lot of high school students are going to be drinking. It's the way it is, it's the way it's always been.

     In a perfect world, we could go around hoping that our children will be strong enough to turn away from alcohol during their festive times, but if you're being honest and real, that only happens with a select few.

        Parents: Have the Talk!

     Ask your kids what they are going to be doing and where they will be? Open those lines of communication so that if your children are drinking they know they can call you at any hour of the night and you will come get them.

      Just be honest!

      Remind the young ones that think they are invincible that a third of the youth under the age of 21 are killed in alcohol-related facilities during April, May and June - Prom and graduation season.

     Kids and graduates - Think back to some of the people you know that have been killed or injured from alcohol-related accidents.

     It's been a few years back now, but a student from White River died on graduation night.

     A few months back we had a former student from the area that died in a crash outside of Mission.

     It can happen to anyone at anytime.

    Take the uncertainty out of the equation and just make the commitment to not drink and drive...PERIOD!

     If you've had a drink, don't drive.

     Parents, talk to your kids about scenarios.

    Give them options...provide a designated driver.

    To the kids out there, police each other and make sure that no one that is drinking gets in a car and help keep everyone safe.

    Parents hosting parties: If that's the plan, then ya better be out there chaperoning the kids and not just pouring free drinks. If they're at your house, you're responsible.

      Sorry to put a gloom and doom on graduation, but if you don't talk to your kids about this no one will.

    Congratulations to all the local graduates, It's been fun watching you grow.

    I wanna make sure you're around so the rest of us can continue to see you grow.

   Be smart...talk about it. 

   Too many beautiful faces around here to lose even a single one of them. . .

An exerpt from

 panicbutton.sportsblog.com.

HOW TO START A CAR IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Car engines are difficult to start in winter months, especially in subzero weather. When the weather sinks below zero, the components of your engine whether metal, rubber or plastic pieces, are in danger of breaking or cracking. Gas evaporates less in the cold, but it is evaporation that provides the gas vapors that ignite the engine.  Oil gets thicker in cold temperatures, which means it can't flow through the engine as well. In addition, the battery reacts more slowly in the cold, making it much more difficult to get the engine to turn over.

Modern fuel injected )cars are great, but for those of us who don't have them there are several tips to ensure your car starts when you turn the key.

1. Oil : Thin oil, like 0-20 or 5-20 will let the engine crank over faster due to lower viscosity and friction. Think of the difference between stirring a frozen milkshake vs. a melted one. If you haven't had an oil change to winter weight oil, this is the least expensive maintenance item you can due to fight off old man winter.

2. Battery:  A good battery with plenty of CCA's (cold cranking amps is essential. A battery may only last 3-4 years in Minnesota so you may want to look at yours.  Since electricity from the battery is the result of a chemical reaction, and the reaction slows down in the cold, the best defense is a new, strong battery.

3.  Heat- Keeping your car in a garage whether heated or unheated is the very best way to keep your car from freezing. But, since all of us can't keep our cars inside a blockheater is an alternative. The cost of a blockheater is in the neighborhood of $200 installed and over time could save you valuable time and money. You need access to power and an extension cord outside to use one, but in Minnesota this is a great tool.

As always, I'll remind you that maintaining your car's health with regular oil changes is still the number one way to keep it reliable in any weather.

Stay warm. Drive safely.