Archive for the ‘In General’ Category

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29
Nov/102

Seatbelts Save Lives – But Only If They Are Worn.

Responding to emergency calls, I have seen a great deal over the last fourteen years since starting my second career working on an ambulance.  Recently we responded to a vehicle full of occupants that had rolled several times.  All the occupants were safely out of the vehicle and suffered little to no injuries.  Why this particular outcome – all the occupants were belted.  It was the best outcome one could hope for in such a tragic occurrence.

Seatbelts make that difference.  In a roll-over accident, it is common for the occupant(s) to be ejected out a window, and either the ejection or the vehicle rolling over them causes serious to fatal injuries.  I have witnessed this too many times, as has anyone who has responded to these calls.

As I was considering this post earlier this morning, I received news that the brother of someone I know living out West was driving his car this past weekend.  In the car were both of his parents.  He lost control, the car rolled, and his father and mother were ejected from the vehicle.  Mom’s outcome was a rare occurrence – she survived with minimal injuries.  Dad was less fortunate and was killed in the accident.  No one was wearing their seat belts even though icy conditions were present.

The outcomes of both accidents could be attributable to one simple variable – wearing seat belts.  I can attest based on my fourteen years experience, I have seen some pretty bad accidents, and those wearing seat belts fared better than those who did not.

Please ensure the best possible outcome for yourself, your family and your passengers.  Be sure to always wear your seat belt, and insist every passenger wears theirs as well.

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27
Oct/1022

The Penguin Caper – One You Won’t Believe

As part of a recent trade show, we purchased a number of stuffed animals, penguins to be specific, to display on our table and our booth.  It was an appropriate theme, as we were sponsoring a visit from the local aquarium with their live pengins for the attendees to meet.

There were two conferences that day, and several sponsor displays (including ours) in the hallway between both groups.  Throughout the day folks would comment on the stuffed penguins, to be used later in the evening for table decorations at the reception.

At lunch time all the booths were unmanned, and I was eating lunch at the registration table a distance away from our booth, but within eyesight of everything.  I observed two adult women from the other conference return from the rest room and stop at my booth,  They commented to each other about the penguins, and looked around to see if anyone was watching them.  They didn’t see me sitting away eating lunch, and what they saw was all the booths unattended.

They walked away and back into their conference room.  A minute or so later I walked down and was standing away by some of the other booths.  One of the woman reappeared from the conference room along with a second woman, who was carrying a scarf in her hand.  They both looked around and saw than no one was around the booth.  They headed to my booth, looked around some more, and picked up a penguin.  They never realized I was coming up right behind them.  The woman holding the scarf was opening it and swirling it in her hands when I asked them if they needed anything.

Startled, they asked me where the young lady was who was at the booth earlier in the day.  Not too observant as I was sitting with my assistant (the young lady) at my booth all day.  I told them she lad left, and asked what they wanted.  They asked if they could have a penguin.  I told them they couldn’t, because they were the table decorations for the receiption.  They very not happy – they wanted a penguin.  They lingered – they still wanted one and were unwilling to take no for an answer.

Busted.  These two adult women were about to steal our displays and conceal their theft in their scarf.  I watched them case the booths, return with a plan and an accomplish, and a scarf to conceal their theft.

Adults – doesn’t make you wonder long why the kids these days are getting worse and worse – it all starts with their upbringing.

It’s so unfortunate that you can not simply enjoy life anymore, and that you always have to keep your guard up – and it is because of people like these women who have ruined our society.

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27
Oct/1082

The more you observe, the less you wish you had seen

Being a fraud examiner, you can never shut things off, and as any good fraud expert knows, observation skills are one of the most important skills you can develop in the fight on fraud.

The problem is fraud will find you even when you are not looking for it.

Southwest Airlines – well known for their fares, no frills flights and boarding process.  The earliest passengers to check in get the better line positions after those who paid extra for early boarding.  All the seats are pretty much the same, except for the few rows with extra leg room (front row, wing aisles).  And the extra le room comes in handy when it will be a long flight, which mine was to be.

Waiting to board a flight that was delayed, so I watched a couple come into the terminal and head towards our gate. I was there very early and observed pretty much everyone coming on our flight.  The couple reached the gate area and observed the number of passengers waiting, along with two wheelchaired passengers all the way up front.

The husband sets their things down and the wife sits with their bags.  The husband returns and they leave with their bags, only to return with the wife now riding in a Southwest wheelchair.  He brings the wife right to the front of the lines, and waits.  Mind you they were both carrying bags and walking, through security, through the terminals…

Boarding begins, and they are brought down to the plane before anyone,  After the “A”s board and most of the “B”s board, I get down onto the plane.  As I entered the cabin who is sitting nice and comfortably in the very first row with the extra leg room, relaxing – that would be the same couple.  What a great scam – put someone in a wheelchair and board before everyone – what a great message that sends to those who truly need the wheelchairs. Perhaps they figured no one would notice their scam – we’ll I noticed.

Funny thing is when we landed no sky captain waiting to bring the wheelchair passenger wife back off the plane.  In fact, no wheelchair even waiting for their use.  You would think that if the crew saw that they needed a wheelchair to board, they would require one when they departed.  Guess not, not that they wouldn’t have simply taken the chair and ditched it once in the terminal.

What’s wrong with people – has our society simply become a “get anything I can for myself at any cost” society?  Doesn’t anyone have pride and self-respect any more?

I wish I could turn off the observations at times.

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