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THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JULY 1, 2022 Page 13 Keep July 4th celebrations safe — if you drink, don’t drive Drunk driving responsible for 41% of traffi c deaths in 2020 M others Against Drunk Driving (MADD) urges everyone to celebrate safely by planning and designating a nondrinking, unimpaired driver during the long July 4th holiday weekend. “We want everyone to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend with a plan that keeps themselves, their families and their communities safe,” said MADD New England Executive Director Bob Garguilo. “Whether you’re on a road trip, driving just a few blocks to a friend’s house or going out on the water for the day, the safest choice is to never drink and operate any vehicle.” According to the National Highway Traffi c Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020 201 people died in alcohol-related crashes from 6 p.m. on July 2 to 5:59 a.m. on July 6. In addition, drunk driving was blamed for 41% of all traffic deaths during the long weekend, and 85% of the fatal crashes occurred between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m. In 2020, 542 drivers killed in traffic crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher, and 51% were between the ages of 21 and 34. Drunk driving deaths are rising at an alarming rate. Preliminary estimates for 2021 show that more than 12,000 people were killed by drunk driving – the highest number since 2007. In 2020 one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes. On the water, alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in recreational boating deaths and incidents in the United States. Alcohol was listed as the leading contributing factor in 16% of boating deaths in 2021. “As we celebrate our nation’s independence, we can all contribute to the safety of our communities by making the right choices. If you drink, don’t drive or operate a boat,” Garguilo said. ABOUT MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING MADD, which was founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 400,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a nondrinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit http://www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD. REMINDER: 2022 Fare Changes Take Effect July 1 Drunk driving responsible for 41% of traffi c deaths in 2020 1 -Day LinkPass Lowered to $11, 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders Introduced BOSTON — The MBTA is reminding riders that several fare changes go into eff ect on July 1, 2022, including lowering the 1-Day LinkPass to $11, expanding second transfers, and a number of new pass products for Reduced Fare Riders. These changes aim to improve equity by closing gaps in existing fare structures for Reduced Fare Riders, and to simplify fare tariff rules. REDUCING PRICE OF THE 1-DAY LINKPASS: In an eff ort to increase ridership by encouraging more riders to buy passes and increase equity for low-income and minority riders who often purchase this fare product, the cost of the 1-Day LinkPass will be lowered from $12.75 to $11. An $11 LinkPass pays for itself with five subway rides taken in 24 hours. EXPANDING SECOND TRANSFERS ON BUSES, EXPRESS BUS ROUTES, AND/OR SUBWAY: Currently, the MBTA only allows one transfer between Bus and/or Subway with one recent addition — CharlieCard riders may transfer from Bus to Subway to Bus. To simplify complexities in the T’s transfer policy, the transfer process will be standardized to allow all combinations of second transfers involving Buses, Express Bus Routes, and/or Subway, including Bus-Bus-Subway, SubwayBus-Bus, and Express Bus-Express Bus. NEW PASS PRODUCTS FOR REDUCED FARE RIDERS: Some riders are eligible for reduced fares, including people with disabilities and Medicare cardholders, people 65 and older, middle and high school students, and people 18 — 25 with low income. Three fare changes that aim to improve equity by closing gaps in existing fare structures for Reduced Fare Riders: • Introducing the 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders: Aiming to increase equity by increasing the benefi ts of purchasing fares in bulk for Reduced Fare Riders, a 7-Day LinkPass for Reduced Fare riders will be available for $10, which breaks even after nine subway rides. This product is designed to meet the needs of individuals who might not have enough cash on-hand to aff ord a monthly pass, but who qualify for Reduced Fare programs. • Introducing Monthly Passes for Reduced Fare Riders on Commuter Rail, Ferry, and Express Bus: In order to increase equity by closing gaps in the T’s off ering of pass products for Reduced Fare Riders, monthly passes on Commuter Rail, Ferry, and Express Bus will be made available. This update off ers passes for Reduced Fare Riders at approximately 50% of the full fare pass prices. • Expanding Availability of the LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders on Commuter Rail Zone 1A and Inner Harbor Ferry: Currently, a LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders is only available on CharlieCard fare media instead of a printed “fl ash pass” CharlieTicket that Commuter Rail conductors and ferry staff can see to visually validate a fare. To increase access and equitable pricing on Reduced Fare passes, the LinkPass for Reduced Fare Riders will be available on a CharlieTicket and valid for Commuter Rail travel in Zone 1A and on the Charlestown Ferry. New fare products will not be available in a few select locations: Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), Fenway Park, Lynn Busway, Museum of Fine Arts, Woburn Anderson, and Worcester Union Station. These products will be available at nearby stations. For more information, please visit mbta.com/ 2022farechanges or connect with the T on Twitter @MBTA, Facebook /TheMBTA, or Instagram @theMBTA. Massachusetts Medical Society, Mass. Dental Society urge focus on children’s oral health D ental caries are highly prevalent in children in Massachusetts. Caries are a preventable, multi-factorial process involving the complex interplay between teeth, bacteria, and dietary sugars, resulting in destruction of the tooth structure. The Massachusetts Medical Society and Massachusetts Dental Society would like to strongly advocate for renewed focus by medical and dental providers on caries prevention through following best practices: 1) All children should have their teeth brushed by a caregiver starting at age 6 months with a smear of fluoridated toothpaste twice daily, increasing to a pea size amount at age 3. 2) Children should have access to fluoridated water in their community starting at age 6 months If not, fl uoride supplements should be prescribed for children ages 6 months to 16 years whose primary drinking water has low or no fl uoride. 3) All children should be offered fluoride varnish twice a year in the medical and/or dental offi ce starting at age 6 months (more often for higher risk children) to age 6 years; higher risk children should continue up to age 21. Fluoride varnish is a reimbursed service for both medical and dental providers. 4) All children should be referred to a dentist by age 1. Dentists not comfortable seeing children by age 1 should refer children to dentists who do see young children. 5) All children and their families should have routine oral health engagement starting at 6 months in the medical setting through an oral health risk assessment, oral exam, and anticipatory guidance. They should be counselled on a range of preventive measures including routine brushing, fl ossing once teeth are touching, restricting sugary drinks and foods because of their cariogenic effects, and avoiding bottles in cribs/bed with anything other than water. All recommendations are based on the best evidence and reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association. For further education, please consider completing the Smiles for Life National Oral Health curriculum. • Dr. Theodore A. Calianos, II, FACS, President, Massachusetts Medical Society • Dr. Meredith Bailey, president, Massachusetts Dental Society

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