Operation Lifesaver is looking for a volunteer state coordinator to assume this post when the current state coordinator, Lyman Cousens, steps aside. Cousens, a Boscawen resident, has been in this position for the past 20 years.
The mission of Operation Lifesaver is to end collisions, deaths and injuries at highway-rail crossings through a network of certified volunteers who provide free presentations on rail safety to school children, community organizations and driver education classes. The state coordinator recruits and trains these volunteer presenters.
Operation Lifesaver is a non-profit organization that sponsors an annual national conference of all the state OL coordinators. Cousens remarked that he has always enjoyed attending these conferences, the expense of which is paid by the national OL office.
In 1972, when crashes at highway rail crossings had risen above 12,000 annually, Idaho started a program to educate the public on the importance of motorists and pedestrians exercising caution at railroad right of ways. Other states soon followed Idaho's example.
The New Hampshire OL organization was started in 1983 by Ray Burton of Bath and Donald Provinture of Gorham. In 1986 Operation Lifesave was launched nationally.
With a renaissance of rail transportation when trains are bigger, faster and quieter, reducing injuries and fatalities where highway traffic and train tracks intercept is a constant challenge.
For details about the process of becoming the next state coordinator for Operation Lifesaver, contact Cousens at 796-1729 or at his email, lymancousens@comcast.net.
For additional information about Operation Lifesaver, visit oli.org.
