OCR Text |
Show I BB Sun Advocate Price, Utah Thursday May 9, 2002 "Safe Kids" focus on car seats and helmets By KEN LARSON Publisher Its a effort and its 17 in locations happening throughout Utah this week. Certified volunteers from numerous organizations and agencies were in Price Tbesday at the fire station working with kids and parents making sure kids are safe. The local group worked until 8 p.m. Hiesday as long lines of parents, children, caregivers and cars took part in the check point and program. ..." . state-wid- e According two caravans teaching children and parents about proper car seat and helmet use. The eventshad plenty of activities for kids, inemercluding garnet a gency call simulator, car seat check points, arid helmet-fittin- g stations. The local fire department hosted a simulated house that was on fire, however just as they were beginning the event, the department was called to a structure fire. Ironically the police department was responding to a motor vehicle crash at the same time. lected money, helped take education material around, and assisted in tending the kids while the staff and volunteersworked with seats and conducted the checks: Nowak did say that this was the largest turnout locally so far for an event such as this but did 5ssia&s. v -1 v.v- Other sponsors of to Georgina Nowak, Com-- . munity Health Educator with the Southeastern Utah District Health Department, 63 car seats were sold and a whole bunch of bike helmets were distributed. Nowak and the organizing com- Tuesdays event included the local Carbon Emery Safe Kids Coalition, which is made up of volunteers from Utah Highway Patrol, Emery County Sheriffs office, health department, and Castleview Hospital. mittee were sorting through the paper work Wednesday working to total numbers of parents and children thatpartid--pate- d in the event Heads Up! 2002 is the theme of this years Safe Kids Week May 4-- 1 1. The Utah Safe Kids Coalition and National Safe Kids Campaign are teaming up to make parents aware of the need to protect their childrens developing brains from injury. According to Nowak, when the brain is injured, it doesnt heal like a cut or a broken bone, so damage from a crash or a fall can often be permanent, commuting, and because kids cant recognize risk, its up to parents and caregivers to keqj them safe. Nowak explained the pro- -' gram and background as she fitted bicycle helmets on children. Meanwhile the local Utah Highway Patrol were checking seats and looking over other car seats to make sure they were property installed. The Masons and State Bum Insurance employees were the local volunteer groups and according to Nowak then turnout was wonderful, they helped with volunteers, ran the games, col- - add that there will be other check points coming in the summer months and she requested par- ents to watch for public an- nouncements. One such safety campaign, Buckle Up America" is scheduled for May 20-2- 7 Nowak, said that the cost of a helmet or cost of a proper car seat . is much cheaper than a visit to the emergency room or doctor or a life of rehabilitation. Injuries are the major cause of brain injury and death in children ages 1 through 14. According to material that was distributed more than 50,000 Americans will die this year as a result of a traumatic brain injury. The real tragedy is that most injuries can be avoided, says Utah Safe Kids coalition coTchair Janet Brooks, Often all it takes is a helmet, a seat belt or a car seat to reduce your childs risk of a head injury." This weeks state-wid- e effort is going from border to border in Jp . It was a day of fun and festivity, but it was also a day of education and awareness as long lines of parents, children and volunteers gathered in Price at one of Utahs 17 Safe Kids events. Held this week, the campaign was themed "Heads Up." Pictured on the top left is Colleen Clark, Utah Safe Kid volunteer with Payton Filliingim of Spring Glen In the pictures above, local Health Educa tor Georgina Nowak is working with brother and sister Cameron and Ashlee Blackburn. Cameron is spinning the safety wheel while his sister is getting her new helmet adjusted. In the two lower pictures members of the Utah Highway Patrol conduct a safety check on an existing seat while another volunteer adjusts and installs a new seat |