Photo by solamore

As teenagers anxiously await prom celebrations, nervous parents are hoping their children celebrate safely and responsibly. Curfews may be broken, seat belts forgotten, and alcohol consumed. What should be a happy time for students might be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

To help teenagers make it safely to and from a celebration, Allstate Insurance Company recommends the following tips:

Plan an alternate source of transportation—arrange for a cab or a limousine.

Limit the number of passengers in your teenager's car—more passengers create more potential distractions for the driver.

Prohibit driving under the influence—underage drinking and driving is against the law. Make it clear to your teens that if they drink or use drugs, driving privileges will be revoked.

Establish an SOS—teens make mistakes and sometimes get themselves into dangerous situations. Make sure your teens have a responsible adult they can call if they feel they shouldn't be driving or are riding with another young driver who shouldn't be driving.

Reduce distractions—make sure your teen agrees not to eat, drink, or use a cell phone while driving.

Buckle up—teens, more than any group of drivers and passengers, don't use seatbelts.

Check the condition of your teen's car—make certain your teen is driving a car in good condition.

-

Source: WAFF Channel 48 News, http://www.waff.com/Global/story.asp?S=12103114

-

If you are a parent wishing to test your teen for the precense of alcohol, we recommend the effective and affordable AlcoHAWK Slim.  Got and idea not mentioned? Leave a comment with your tips and suggestions.

Drunk driving is a problem we have all been touched by in one way or another, whether it is directly through a victim that was yourself, a friend or family member; or indirectly by reading a magazine article or watching the news.  Are you looking for a way to help eliminate drunk driving?

Here are 4 ways in which you can help:

Educate yourself. Do research on the web, read a book or a blog on the topic of drunk driving. In 2008, an estimated 11,773 people died in drunk driving crashes involving a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). These deaths make up 31.6% of the total traffic fatalities in 2008. (Source: NHTSA, 2009)

Don't drink and drive. If you consume any alcohol, don't drive. If you are at a gathering, bar or restuarant have a friend, family member or taxi drive you home. If you drink at home, stay home.

Become a designated driver. If your friends like to drink, becoming the designated driver in your group could save their lives and the lives of others on the road.

Get involved. There are local and national activist groups and online communities with the goal of eliminating drunk driving. One of the largest activist groups is Mothers Against Drunk Driving. From there you can sign their pledge to eliminate drunk driving.

Got comments? We'd love to hear from you!

Recently a few people have asked us how to clean their AlcoHAWK breathalyzer.  Here is what we recommend:

Use of a mild disinfectant cleaner and a soft cloth on the outside of the case is recommended periodically to keep your unit clean. Do not use alcohol to clean the unit.

---

You may ask "Why can't I use rubbing alcohol to clean the unit?" The answer: Because your breathalyzer is used to detect alcohol and if any traces of rubbing alcohol are still on the unit you may have skewed results when you perform a test.

Will you be hosting or attending a party this holiday season? If alcohol will be present, it is important to plan ahead and drink responsibly to stay safe and avoid injury.

To drink safely and responsibly:

• Limit your consumption of alcohol. Space your drinks at least an hour apart;
• Have something to eat while you are drinking;
• Try alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the party to cut down on the amount you drink;
• Drink only if you want to. Don't be pressured into accepting a drink; and
• Don't drive. Take a taxi, public transportation, walk or decide who is to be designated driver before the party starts.

Source: Health Canada; http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/securit/season-saison/holiday-fetes/index-eng.php#c

-

To keep your alcohol consumption in check, think about getting a personal breathalyzer.  They are more accurate than you think and will allow you to know your limits.  Enjoy drinking safely and responsibly!

Here is a video that has some good tips to help you avoid a false positive.  We always recommend that you wait 20 minutes after the smoking, eating or drinking before testing. Failure to wait 20 minutes can give inaccurate BAC readings and harm the sensor of your personal breathalyzer.

Drunk Driving: How To Avoid A False Positive Breathalyzer Test