View this email in your browser

Welcome!

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Operation Lifesaver, Inc.’s (OLI) quarterly partner newsletter — your go-to source for information, inspiration and OLI resources. Each issue is packed with bite-sized insights on OLI assets, upcoming calendar observances, best practices and social assets.

Social assets make it worth the scroll! Social post options are included below that you can right click and download for use on your social platforms. You’ll find graphics and copy for a range of observances including Walk Your Pet Month, Super Bowl Sunday, Pi Day and Read Across America Day to name a few. Scroll to the bottom to welcome three new Operation Lifesaver State Coordinators and read Highlights from State Programs.

We hope you find this newsletter helpful. Please feel free to share it. Keep an eye on your inbox in April for the next edition.

As always, thank you for all you do to share the #RailSafetyEducation message and #STOPTrackTragedies.

Photo above from one of OLI’s newest PSAs.

Rail Safety Week is being renamed and rebranded to See Tracks? Think Train!® Week (ST3Week for short). Mark your calendar now for Sept 23-29, 2024, for a wonderful week of concentrated #RailSafetyEducation messaging.  

Here at the National Office, we are already planning for the rebrand and looking forward to providing you with a collection of rebranded ST3Week assets.

Know someone who would like to receive ST3Week assets? Email Jennifer DeAngelis to be added to our partner email list.

January  
National Hobby Month / Walk Your Pet Month*

21-27: National Passenger Safety Week*

28-30: Imaging USA Photography Conference, Louisville, KY  

30: AASHTO Council on Rail Meeting Begins, Washington, DC

February  

Black History Month  

2: AASHTO Council on Rail Meeting Ends, Washington, DC

5-8: AASHTO Washington Briefing, Washington, DC

2-6: ATSSA Conference & Traffic Expo, San Diego, CA

11: Super Bowl Sunday*

14: Valentine’s Day*  

19: President’s Day (OLI office closed)

March  

Women’s History Month    

2: National Read Across America Day*

8: International Women’s Day  

10: Ramadan Begins  

13-14: AAMVA Workshop and Law Institute Conference, Oklahoma City, OK

14: Pi Day*

19: First Day of Spring*

24-26: ASLRRA 2024 Annual Conference and Exhibition, Kansas City, KS

27: World Theater Day*  

31: Easter    

April  

Distracted Driving Awareness Month* / National Volunteer Month* / National 911 Education Month* / Alcohol Awareness Month  

7: World Health Day*  

9: Ramadan ends

7-9: Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety, Denver, CO

14: Good Deeds Day*  

14-20: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week*

15-19: National Work Zone Awareness Week

20: Volunteer Recognition Day*  

21-27: National Volunteer Week*  

23: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day*

23: World Book Day*  

22-30: Passover

Social Posts: Super Bowl Sunday

Check out these social graphics to consider using leading up to and on #SuperBowlSunday Feb. 11.

Social Posts: Valentines Day

Social post graphics and text in italics to consider for Valentines Day, Feb. 14.

This Valentine’s Day and every day, keep your loved ones safe by sharing the #RailSafety message with them.

This Valentine’s Day, share our Train Safety Savvy online game with the kids you love. Check it out! https://oli.org/train-safety-savvy
#RailSafetyEducation #OnlineGames #kids

Social Post, Asset Highlight: National Read Across America Day

OLI’s Trains and Tracks is a wonderful resource to share during National Read Across America Day, March 2. The book is available as a PDF, a read-aloud video and for purchase at Morton Suggestion Co.

OLI also has some fun and informative Trains and Tracks lesson plans (Train and the WhateverItWas) and a Trains and Tracks Virtual Facilitation Guide for K-2. Don’t forget about the recently redesigned OLI bookmark.

Social Posts: First Day of Spring

Social post graphics and text inspiration to consider sharing on the first day of Spring, March 19.

Happy First Day of Spring! As you head outside, remember to always make safe choices around tracks and trains. #RailSafetyEducation #FirstDayOfSpring

Rails and recreation don’t mix. As you enjoy this first day of spring outside — remember to stay off and stay away from railroad tracks. #RailSafetyEducation #fFirstDayOfSpring

Asset Highlight: Lesson Plan and Script
Lights. Camera. Train Safety Savvy!

In anticipation of World Theatre Day, March 27, share OLI’s #RailSafetyEducation lesson plan and script with educators and drama teachers in your community.

Social Post: World Health Day

Social post graphic and text inspiration to consider sharing on World Health Day, April 7.

This World Health Day, encourage your loved ones to take the #RailSafetyPledge and promise to make safe choices around tracks and trains: https://oli.org/pledge/adults

#RailSafetyEducation #WorldHealthDay

Social Post, Asset Highlight: Good Deeds Day

Good Deeds Day is an annual day of “doing good” highlighting the idea that every single person can do something — large or small — to improve the lives of others and positively change the world. Below find assets and social posts to consider sharing leading up to and on Good Deeds Day, April 14.

Know the Facts. Make good decisions. Share information about the importance of making safe choices around tracks and trains this #GoodDeedsDay #RailSafetyEducation

From sharing the importance of making safe choices around tracks and trains and volunteering with us to taking and sharing the #RailSafetyPledge and #TransitSafetyPledge with your friends and family, there are many good deeds you can do today! #GoodDeedsDay #RailSafetyEducation

Social Post, Asset Highlight: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Observed April 14-20, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week honors those who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment and render life-saving assistance every day.

Thank the telecommunicators in your community this week and educate them about the Blue and White Emergency Notification System sign. Give these important first responders the tools and the info they need to keep their communities safe.

• Share OLI’s Find the Blue and White ENS Sign PSA.

• Offer OLI’s FREE #RailSafetyEducation programs and/or RISC presentations.

Highlights from State Programs

Mandatory Course for New Oklahoma Drivers Includes Rail Safety Education

According to the training, “In this course, Oklahoma drivers aged 15 to 19 will learn fundamental principles to make Oklahoma work zones and rail crossings safer for drivers, passengers, workers, and first responders.”

Students are required to watch videos in their entirety and answer detail-specific questions at the end of each segment in order to proceed through the training.

“You have to pay attention as the rail safety questions are intentionally very detail-specific,” said Oklahoma Operation Lifesaver State Coordinator Mark Sexton. “We used current OLI materials and test questions."  

Training went live Nov. 1, 2023. In the first month, 7,039 students enrolled and 5,739 students completed the program suggesting that OK OL has the opportunity to share the #RailSafetyEducation message with approximately 66,000 first-time teen drivers each year.

Contact Jennifer DeAngelis with questions or for more info.

Click and share the image above to learn more about volunteering with us.

Follow Us On Social

Share This Newsletter

Did someone share this newsletter with you?

If yes, please email news@oli.org and get on our mailing list.

We welcome your feedback for this quarterly resource. Send comments, suggestions or advice to news@oli.org and/or Jennifer DeAngelis.