NCL Road Safety Day

Summer is the most dangerous time of year for kids, according to a new study by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. SAFE KIDS found that May through August account for nearly half of all injury-related childhood deaths, with July being the deadliest month.

Unintentional injury remains the leading killer of children 14 and under. During the summer months when children are out of school, spending more time outdoors, the risks to children are heightened.

"While we encourage children to be active and spend time outdoors, they need to understand the consequences of not taking safety precautions and should remember to wear a bike helmet and ride restrained in the car," says Dr. C. Everett koop, former U. S. Surgeon General and chairman of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. "Parents need to know that regardless of their chilren's age, it is ultimately their responsibiltiy to provide their children with the proper safety devices and adequate supervision."

SAFE KIDS also commissioned polls looking at the safety attitudes and behaviors of adults and children and found that while a majority of parents understand that summer is the most dangerous time of year, most kids underestimate the dangers of this season. According to one poll,most children said that their parents worry too much about them being hurt in an accident, while only a small percentage knew that "accidents" - not violence were the main cuase of injury and death. According the the poll, many parents are putting their kids at risk unknowingly.

In an effort to promote Road Safety and to try to reduce the likelihood of injury in Norfolk, the Norfolk Community League is sponsoring a Road Safety day on June 9th on Town Hill from 10-3. The day is designed to be an informative and fun event to promote road safety in our community.

The day features the 5th Annual 5K Run /Walk - registration begins at 8:30. The fee is $15 and the first one hundred registrants will receive free reflective safety vests. Kids 1/2 mile, 50 m and 100 m races will be held at 9:45 and 11:30 respectively. The fees range from $3 to $5. Radio Disney WMKI 1260 A.M. will be on hand in the morning for music and fun activites.

The highlight of the day for most childen will be a live performance by 'Perfection on Wheels', a bicycle stunt team. They will deliver a very important safety message to the children about how to use their equipment safely and to alway use the appropriate safety gear - like helmets. For more information you may visit their web - page at WWW.Perfectiononwheels.com

Helmets will be for sale for only $10, in an effort to make sure that everyone who needs one can afford one. Children who already have a helmet may bring theirs and decorate it.

Rhode Island Safe Kids and the National Highway Safety Transportation Association will be on hand to perform Car Seat Safety Checks. Statistics have shown that 9 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly, jeopardizing your child's safety.

Other features of the day include a Virtual Reality Drunk Driving Demonstration, MADD /SADD, Student Driving Obstacle Course, an opportunity to meet Vince and Larry the Crash Test Dummies, music, food, icecream, fun and much more.

The Norfolk Community League encourages all parents ( with infants in rear facing car seats, to elementary school children, to children learning to drive ) to attend with their families and to watch the Safety Programming on NCTV Channel 8 from now until mid-June.

For more information log onto www.norfolkcommunityleague.org or for race info call Carmen @ 508 541-7472 or event info Paula @ 508 541-6757

Contributions are being accepted for the fund raising effort for the NOrfolk Police Department and may be sent to the Norfolk Community League P.O. Box 450, Norfolk, MA 02056 Attn: Bullet Proof Vest Fund Raiser

5/25/01

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