Operation Lifesaver Continues to Spread Rail Safety Message - St. Louis Post-Dispatch letter

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran a three-part series on rail trespass deaths and injuries December 9-11, 2012 that included an article on Operation Lifesaver. OLI President and CEO Joyce Rose submitted the following Letter to the Editor, which was published on December 16.

The letter can be found online at http://bit.ly/ZDFuGU. The article on Operation Lifesaver is at http://bit.ly/VymimL.

To the Editor:

Your Dec. 10 article “Safety group shrinks, danger stays” does not fully represent what Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners are doing to educate the public about the dangers for pedestrians near train tracks. We feel the heartache of the families and communities who are affected by rail trespass deaths and injuries, and our dedicated volunteers are passionate about preventing these tragic pedestrian-train incidents.

As your story notes, every Operation Lifesaver safety presentation includes a trespass prevention message.

Railroad employees remain a strong presence in OL’s cadre of volunteers, and many of the most active volunteers who speak to specialized audiences — such as new and professional drivers — are railroad employees. Every year, OL volunteers reach over 1 million people directly with our rail safety message.

We are in the process of introducing new safety materials for volunteers to use that will also be available online to the public at www.oli.org, making Operation Lifesaver’s safety information accessible to everyone.

Working together, we can make a difference in our communities — and save lives.

Joyce Rose 

Alexandria, Va.

President and CEO, Operation Lifesaver Inc.