Operation Lifesaver Trains New State Rail Safety Program Leaders
ALEXANDRIA , VA, February 2, 2010 - Operation Lifesaver, (OL), the national rail safety education organization, last week conducted professional development training for new State Coordinators from Michigan, Minnesota and New Mexico along with the Southern California area coordinator.
“Every year, we provide three days of leadership training for these new State Coordinators to help them run successful state-wide programs to help reduce collisions, deaths and injuries around tracks and trains,” said Helen Sramek, Operation Lifesaver, Inc. President.
The 2010 class of coordinators, selected by their state’s Operation Lifesaver boards and councils, include:
California – Sara Logan of Beaumont has worked with Operation Lifesaver in California’s Southern region for a year and a half.
Michigan – Sam Crowl of Lansing has 28 years of railroad experience as senior trainmaster and safety superintendent, as well as eight years operating a dinner train in Michigan.
Minnesota – Donna Naumann of Maplewood worked with the American Red Cross and Health East Care System as a health educator before joining Operation Lifesaver.
New Mexico - Stephanie Paiz of Albuquerque has worked as a safety coordinator for New Mexico Rail Runner Express, a commuter rail line, for four years. She joined Operation Lifesaver in May 2006.
Key responsibilities of Operation Lifesaver State Coordinators include: acting as OL’s state representative; managing their state’s annual activities and budget, recruiting and training safety presenters; building safety partnerships; and responding to requests for safety presentations for schools, commercial motor vehicle operators, school bus drivers, law enforcement officials, firefighters and emergency responders, and civic leaders.
In 2008, according to Federal Railroad Administration statistics, there were 2,405 vehicle-train collisions at railroad crossings across America, resulting in 289 fatalities and 952 injuries; an additional 458 people were killed and 429 injured while walking or playing on railroad tracks or right of way. California ranks among the top 5 states for vehicle-train collisions nationwide; Michigan is in the top 20 states for highway-rail collisions. For more information or to schedule a free safety presentation, visit www.oli.org or call 800-537-6224.
