Safety First newsletter
| Current issue: July 7, 2026 | Subscribe to Safety First today |
State Patrol: A lifesaving encounter leads to a lasting connection
Trooper Nick Otterson just finished pumping gas in Garrison on a hot Sunday evening when he heard the sound of screeching tires.
A van came racing into the parking lot.
Inside, a frantic family was fighting to save 60-year-old Don Weiblen, who did not have a pulse. Within moments, Otterson was pulling him from the vehicle and beginning CPR in the middle of the parking lot. For nearly 15 minutes, he worked to bring Don’s pulse back as bystanders, emergency responders and medical personnel joined the effort.
Read the rest of the heroic rescue in our Safety Matters blog.
SFM: Burn surgeon’s fireworks warning this Fourth of July
The Fourth of July does not begin with fireworks.
It begins with families unfolding lawn chairs. Kids circling the block on their bikes. The smell of burgers on the grill. Neighbors gathering as the sun sinks below the trees, waiting for the first brilliant burst to light up the Minnesota sky.
For most people, the holiday ends with memories, laughter and some photos on their phones. For others, it ends in an ambulance or emergency room.
Dr. Alex Lacey, a surgeon at the Regions Hospital Burn Center in St. Paul, has seen this summer tradition go from fun to frightening.
Get tips on how to stay safe around fireworks in our Safety Matters blog.
Commissioner’s Corner: Slow down on rural roads this summer
Summer weekends at the cabin — whether it’s yours or a friend of a friend’s — usually means driving in rural areas. After all, that’s where so many of Minnesota’s best lakes are.
According to our Office of Traffic Safety, there are often more fatal crashes on rural roads than in the Twin Cities Metro Area. There are more two-lane roads, narrower shoulders, less lighting and more wild animals darting into traffic.
Get tips on staying safe on rural roads this summer.
Featured social media
Saved this number yet? 651-201-7777
That’s the new, single phone number for our Driver and Vehicle Services division.
What’s also new — you don’t have to sit on hold. You can request a callback instead.
Heads up: Your phone may flag that callback as spam. Accept the call and get help with anything from licenses to tabs to an appointment for a road test.
About the newsletter
We are here to keep people safe and improve the lives of those who live, work and play in Minnesota.
Part of that is making sure you have all the information you need to make safe decisions for your loved ones.
Safety First brings that information to you every other week along with updates on what we are doing to serve you, the people of Minnesota.