The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
37°F
Current Conditions
Fog
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

EndNotes

  1. Blogs
  2. EndNotes
  3. Living to 100

Living to 100

Many years ago, I profiled several centenarians and asked a gerontologist the secret to living to 100.

He said: "Choose your parents. Wear a seatbelt."  In other words, genetics and safety.

This week, the CDC released figures on seat belt use in the United States for 2009, the most recent data year.

The agency reported that "using a seat belt is one of the most effective means of preventing serious injury or death in the event of a crash. Seat belts saved an estimated 12,713 lives in 2009, but almost 4,000 additional lives could have been saved if every occupant had been buckled up."

Which leads me to today's question: Do you want to live to 100?

(AP file photo of a Waco High School student whose life was saved by a seat belt) 

Spokesman-Review features writer Rebecca Nappi, along with writer Catherine Johnston of Olympia, Wash., discuss here issues facing aging boomers, seniors and those experiencing serious illness, dying, death and other forms of loss.