Interested in learning more about having a Walking School Bus in your community? The Ohio Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program is offering Walking School Bus Training. In this training, you will learn what a walking school bus is, why does your community needs one, how to set up a program and other resources.

Description:A walking school bus or bicycle train both consist of groups of students accompanied by adults that walk or bicycle a pre-planned route to school. Routes can originate from a particular neighborhood or, in order to include children who live too far to walk or bicycle, begin from a parking lot. They may operate daily, weekly or monthly. Often, they are started in order to address parents’ concerns about traffic and personal safety while providing a chance for parents and children to walk or bicycle to school.

Who should attend? Local agency officials/employees and parents, teachers, public health educators, bicycle clubs, Safe Routes to School coordinators, law enforcement officers, and others who care about increasing the number of children that walk and bicycle to school.

Registration information:Registrations are accepted on first come, first serve basis. There is no cost to attend the training. No meals are provided.

If you are interested in attending the Walking School Bus Training, please click here for more information.

School Safety Contest

ODOT also has a school safety contest for students grades K-8.  The contest is designed to improve walking and biking knowledge. Any Ohio K-8 school child, teacher or school that meets the eligibility requirements is welcome to participate. The contest is from now until April 30, 2012.

How to win: Draw a picture. Invent a computer game. Do a rap! All students have to do is create a project that proves they understand how to be safe when walking or riding bikes to school. Students can make a video, conduct a science experiment, design a poster, publish a magazine, write a cheer, invent a safety device or come up with their own idea. There is NO LIMIT to creativity.

Prizes: Student winners will receive a new TREK bike or running schools. Teachers and school winners will receive a $1,000 reward award. Awards can be used for laptops, white boards other other classroom equipment/materials or school safety equipment as long as it supports school safety education in some way. Plus schools will receive opportunities to attending walking school bus and crossing guard trainings. 36 winners will be awarded from all over Ohio.

To learn more about the school safety contest, click here for the School Safety Contest website. To learn more about the rules, click here for a copy of the contest rules.

ODOT All-Ohio Show Choir

ODOT recruited high school students from around the state to create a safety song and video to help students walk and bike to school more safely. This first-of-its-kind, hip hop-style educational video intertwines dancing with safety demonstrations. To watch the ODOT All-Ohio Show Choir’s “Keep Safe Out the Door”, click here.

Winter Weather Increases Chances of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

As colder weather blankets the country, many are finding their blanket aren’t enough to keep warm. Many are suffering from power outages caused by adverse weather conditions and turning to alternative power sources for heat, such as portable generators and fuel-burning stoves or heaters. Here are some facts to consider when you decide to fire up your generator or stove:

 The most recent estimates show about 190 unintentional non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s jurisdiction, in 2008.

• Sixty percent or 114 of those deaths occurred during the colder months of November, December, January and February as people turned on furnaces, used generators during power outages or used fuel-burning space heaters more often than in other months.
• Generators have been associated with the most non-fire CO poisoning deaths for the years 2005 to 2008, with portable generators associated with 86 deaths in 2008.
• Seven more deaths were associated with the use of at least one other CO-producing product. There were an estimated 8 deaths in 2008 related to charcoal. 

 Find more information about generator safety and CO poisoning prevention at CPSC’s OnSaftey Blog.

 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also offers these free materials to help your community stay warm but avoid becoming a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning:

 Distribute these one-sided and two-sided door hangers and this poster in your neighborhoods.

 Add this audio PSA to your website, use it on your telephone messaging system or send it to your local radio station.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Westlake Recreation Center

Thank you to our speaker, Kris Fleck! She talked to us about the position of Drug-Free Action Alliance and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio about Marijuana as a medicine.  The Position Paper Kris discussed is enclosed.

2012 Meetings and Locations

•  March 6 – Fatima Family Center, 6600 Lexington Ave, Cleveland
•  May 1 – AAA (Independence)
•  July 10 – Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department Headquarters
•  September 18 – Recognition Meeting (TBD)
•  November 6 – Parma

CONGRATULATIONS to the BEST Safe Kids Coalition! Safe Kids Greater Cleveland won the Safe Kids USA 2011 Award for Coalition of the Year and Outstanding U.S. Safe Kids Walk this Way Partnership!

2011 Highlights:

• 1,473 car seat inspections
• 297 car seats distributed free or at subsidized cost to low income families
• 39 families received special needs car seats on loan
• 12 school districts participated in Walk Safely to School Week activities
• 48,500 children received pedestrian safety information 
• 1,169 low-cost bike helmets sold
• 5,400 children received bike safety information through skills courses, school assemblies, and other community events
• 9 high schools participated in the Click It For a Ticket program
• 400 free smoke alarms were distributed  
• 200,000 contacts for poison prevention awareness
• 200 elementary schools received poison prevention curricula
• Mocktail Party – 450 attendees & nearly $20,000 raised
  • 60,000 children and parents through fun, interactive safety games at large scale events providing volunteer opportunities   including:
    • Noon Year’s Eve at the Zoo: 5,170
    • Hiram House Pumpkin Festival: 5,000
    • Parade the Circle: 1,500
    • Car Seat Check Saturday & Sunday: 500
    • Cleveland Mayor’s Night Out Against Crime: 6,000
    • Boo at the Zoo:  8,500
    • Greater Cleveland Auto Show Family Day safety booth: 400   
    • Cleveland Classic Football Game: 300
• 2.9 million people reached with seat belt/DUI traffic safety messages
• 225,000 pieces of traffic safety literature distributed
• CIOT:  Speedway Clicks! 8 Buckle Downs
• Motorcycle Safety Liberty Mutual and WTAM partnership  
• Buckle Your Beats partnership
• WMMS/Alan Cox Click It or Ticket partnership
  • Motorcycle safety booths at:
  • Policemen’s Memorial Ride
  • Bike Night @ Valley View Quaker Steak & Lube
  • Wayne Leon Memorial Ride

2011 Fatal crashes in Cuyahoga County

• 60 fatal traffic crashes
• 65 traffic fatalities
  • 8 pedestrian crashes
  • 13 motorcycle crashes
  • 25 out of 39 occupants died unrestrained, an additional 2 were marked “use unknown”
  • 17 out of 36 crashes (with toxicology reports) were alcohol or drug related
    • Average BAC:.198 other drugs included prescription medications, cocaine, and marijuana

Old Business

•  12^th Annual Mocktail Party – THANK YOU to everyone who made this event a HUGE success!
  • Thank you to the agencies that mixed this year!
    • Best Mocktail– Remington College “Crimecicle Cocktail”
    • Best Mocktail Name – Warrensville Heights “’Hot’ Pursuit Holly-Day Punch”
    • Best Presentation – University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Emergency Department “Goody Lemon Drop”
    • Crowd Pleaser – Cleveland Metroparks Ranger Department “Pachyderm Punch”
    • Best Mocktail to Date! With Silent Auction, Chinese Raffle, 50/50 raffle and donations we raised $19,031 for Safe Kids/Safe Communities!
• Noon Year’s Eve – reached around 5,170 kids and parents with CPS information.
  • Great activities for kids including a pledge to always buckle up, “buckle up in the back seat” activity, decorating back seat organizers and measuring/evaluation kids at “Boost Your Booty”.
  • Parents received education on “Be a Booster Booster” and about keeping kids rear facing until two-years-old.
  • UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital received a check for Kohl’s for $215,525 in support of the Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids Program.
  • Holiday Impaired Driving Campaign – Thanks to all those that helped get the nearly 4,000 Party Guides out to grocery stores, carry outs and other member contacts.
    • Designated Driver Drink of the Season – Winking Lizard locations throughout NEO offered free mocktails to designated drivers during the month of December.
•  My Ride My Rules – Thank you to everyone that helped make the fall My Ride My Rules program such a success.
  • With the help of KISS-FM, students submitted videos depicting their rules and the top five finalists posted on KISS-FM to vote.
  • Two winners stared in commercials that will be run during the Glee and American Idol premieres in January. Additional air dates during high-profile shows with teen audience. Also, KISS-FM supporting with on-air radio spots.

New Business

•  My Ride My Rules – High School Rock Off – we are sponsoring the 2012 High School Rock Off
  • My Ride My Rules logo will be in all print, TV and website advertising; presence on High School Rock Off website and Facebook page; included in correspondence to high schools; 2 banners on site; mentions during performances; items to be tossed to the crowd; swag bags presented to the 18 finalist bands; branded 8”x10” photo frames for finalists with band photos
•  Carbon Monoxide Safety – fill out an order form for children and adult  Carbon Monoxide Safety programs.
  • Children – we have carbon monoxide safety coloring sheets and key takeaways
  • Adults – we have CDs available that include b-roll video, bill insert/wallet cards, flyers and web banner ads
• Winter Sports Safety – fill out an order form for materials
  • Winter sports safety flyers for older kids about helmet use; “snow bunny” flyers and stickers to color for younger kids
  • We are offering Giro ski and snow helmets at a discounted price of nearly 50 percent. Minimum purchase 6 helmets.
    • If you are interested in ordering, fill out the ordering form or contact Mandy at 216.983.1105
    • Be a Booster Booster – new campaign aimed at moms of 6-7 year olds. The goal is to have booster seat use the norm up to age 8 or 4’9”. Looking to start a movement of influencers and early adopters.
      • First phase – kicked off with Facebook-based campaign on UH/Rainbow page. Information was shared and gained fans through FOX8 Facebook push. We engaged over 1,000 moms in just a few weeks and offered grand prize of 5 Britax Parkway booster seats and other prizes.
      • Coming soon – direct mail campaign offering moms a “carpool kit” complete with extra booster; window clings; billboards; TV commercial; news media outreach; local mom celebrity outreach
      • Items available or coming soon – flyers; information card with branded tape measure key chain attached; car pool kits; direct mail pieces; window clings
      • If you have a mailing list or contacts for parents of 6 and 7-year-olds, contact Jennifer at 216.983.1161 or Jennifer.walker@UHhospitals.org
• Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Four Day NHTSA Course
  • Location – Olmsted Falls Fire Department (9274 Columbia Rd., Olmsted Falls)
  • Date and Times: Tuesday, January 24 from 9am-5pm; Wednesday, January 25 from 8am-4pm; Thursday, January 26 from noon-8pm; Friday, January 27 from noon-8pm
  • This four day course will teach officers how to recognize and properly evaluate impaired driving suspects, from the initial observation of the vehicle to the arrest and processing of the suspect.  Class is free but registration is required. To register, contact Chrystal Gullett at chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1108.
•  Super Bowl Impaired Driving Campaign – fill out an order form  to receive materials
  • Super Bowl Party kits include: key dish, coasters, Mocktail recipe books, designated driver wrist bans, “Be Responsible” party tips, $5.00 taxi voucher and $5.00 Giant Eagle gift card. **We are asking members to press release that they have these kits. Customizable press materials are available.
  • We also have materials for local bars and restaurants: Safe Rides vouchers, coasters and posters. 
• Burn Prevention Awareness Week – fill out an order form to receive materials
  • Learn Not to Burn Curriculum for kindergarten to 5^th grade students
    • Learn Not to Burn PowerPoint
    • Activity sheets
    • Safety tip sheets for parents
    • Fire safety certificate
    • Burn prevention coloring book
• Valentine’s Day Safety Program – fill out order form to receive materials
  • Two Valentine’s Day crafts are available for kids to create to remind their loved ones to stay safe
    • Pop-up cards – kit includes everything needed to make cards including instructions, card stock and cut-outs with safety poem
    • Coupon books – kit includes everything needed to create including cut-outs with coupons and ribbon
    • OVI Legal Update for Judges and Prosecutors  – Friday, February 24 from 12pm-5pm at Brook Park Recreation Center – 4.5 free CLE hours available
      • This seminar will include information about the development of the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST), Ohio’s new Drug Evaluation and Classification Program, the use of police officers as Drug Recognition Experts (DRE) as a means of identifying and prosecuting drug impaired motorists, and information about the process ignition interlock companies complete to become an approved device in Ohio.  Demonstrations and activities will include:
        • Demonstrate of the 12-step DRE assessment protocol
        • Ignition Interlock demonstrations
        • Hands-on demonstrations of SFSTs
      • To register contact Chrystal at chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1108
• Greater Cleveland Auto Show – Monday February 27 from 11am-10pm
  • We are looking for volunteers to help with the Safe Kids/Safe Communities safety booth at Family Day in the Interactive Kids Zone.
  • We asking people volunteer for 3 hour shifts.
  • To volunteer, contact Chrystal at chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org
• CPS Refresher Class -  Wednesday, February 29 from 9am-4:30pm at Greater Cleveland Auto Show at I-X Center
  • $35.00 to get all your needed CE hours.
  • Focusing on car seats
  • To register, contact Tom at Thomas.vilt@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1115
• CPS Technician Class – to host,  contact Tom at Thomas.vilt@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1115
  • We are looking for a location to host a 4 day technician certification class this spring.
  • Facility needs to be large enough to accommodate 20 students and 60 car seats. Parking area close to classroom with enough space to allow hands-on activity in student vehicles. The availability of an indoor parking area in case of rain is a plus.
  • $85 SKSC registration fee is waived for 2 students from host location
• St. Patrick’s Day Impaired Driving Campaign – fill out order form  to receive materials
  • Looking for partners to sponsor a beaded necklace distribution to bars and restaurants with the “Safe Rides” message. Ideas? Contact Chrystal at chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org.
  • We also have materials for local bars and restaurants including Safe Ride taxi vouchers, coasters, posters and window clings.
• Poison Prevention Week – fill out an order form to receive materials
  • Poison Prevention Awareness Week Curriculum/Poster Contest Packets are available and include teacher/parent letters, safety tips, activity sheets and contest entry forms.
  • Feel free to borrow poison education materials from our Lending Library if you are attending a community event or giving a presentation. Materials include Glow Germ, Spike’s Poison Prevention Adventure DVD and Poison Control In Action DVD.
  • Education poison materials are available for adults and students on CDs.
    • Adult curriculum (available in English and Spanish) includes educational video about Poison Control Center, educational PowerPoint on prevention and statistics, informational flyer on prescription drugs and educational flyer on lead poisoning.
    • Student curriculum includes Spike Poison Prevention video and worksheets for preschools, Poison Patrol Training video and worksheets for elementary school and educational curriculum for middle and high school.
    • If you need information about prescription drug abuse, please contact Nikesha Yarbrough at nikesha..yarbrough@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1119
    • As always, we have magnets, Spanish magnets, phone stickers, Spanish phone stickers and other poison materials available.
•  Sports Safety Initiative – contact Mandy at mandy.thomas@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1105 with information
  • Safe Kids is launching a new sports safety initiative to keep kids safe while being active
  • Athletic trainers, athletic directors or coaches would need to conduct at least three sports safety clinics with the Safe Kids materials
•  Safe Communities Social Media – fill out an order form to receive materials
  • Social media for St. Patrick’s Day and Super Bowl Impaired Driving campaigns
  • CD features Facebook posts, Twitter posts, e-mail blasts/website/newsletter copy and art
• Safe Kids Social Media – fill out an order forms  to receive materials
  • CD features Facebook and Twitter posts and downloads for winter sports safety, carbon monoxide, furniture accidents, childproofing and Burn Prevention Awareness Week
• Distracted Driving Prevention Program Save A Life Tour – to learn more or order contact Kramer Entertainment Agency, Inc. (389 Lake Michigan Dr., Grand Rapids, MI 49534; 616.791.0095 or 888.655.7263)
  • Costs $2,850 per day
  • Includes ~20 minute multi media show with speaker who caused a crash due to distracted driving and 50 kids through hands on driving simulator per hour for ~6 hours.

Coalition Business:

• Safe Sitter – for more information to host a class, contact Tracey Stehura at tracey.stehura@UHhospitals.org or 216.983.1110.
  • Safe Sitters learn:
    • What to do when a child chokes; Safety for the Sitter; How to call for emergency help; Babysitting business skills; Basic Child Care skills; How to entertain children and keep them safe
    • List of classes scheduled are on the website at http://www.injurypreventioncenter.com/programs/safe-sitter
•  Law Enforcement Luncheon – Tuesday, January 17 from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Marriott Cleveland East
  • Agencies will be recognized for crash reduction, top DUI cops and outstanding efforts in traffic safety
•   Activity Reports – available here 
  • Need reports by 14^th of the month for funders.
  • Submit reports by:
    • Fax: 216.983.1180
    • Email: chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org
    • On-line: www.injurypreventioncenter.com/safe-kids/activity-reports
•   Member recruitment
  • Please send any recommendations or suggestions for new great members to the staff at the Rainbow Injury Prevention Center!
•  Social Advocates for Youth Coalition – Thursday, January 19 at Hathaway Brown at 7 pm
•  Our Town & All Around Dining Directories – for more information or to pick up books, contact Chrystal at chrystal.gullett@UHhospitals.org
  • Books sell for $28 and our coalition gets $11 for each book sold.
  • We have flyers and posters to help sell. The sale will end the first week of February.

Thanks to all that attending the meeting!

Thank you to the Westlake Police Department for hosting the meeting. Thank you to Applebees for donating lunch.

Next meeting is Tuesday, March 6 at Fatima Family Center from 9:30am-11pm!

Kohl’s Reaches $1 Million Milestone with $215,525 Donation to Support the

Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids Program at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

 
This year, Greater Cleveland parents and children brought in the New Year with the resolution to buckle up every time at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo’s Noon Year’s Eve event on December 31. Over 5,100 children and parents visited the Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids exhibit at the UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital booth in the warmth of the Zoo’s Exhibit Hall for fun games and crafts that focused on staying safe in the New Year. Those who signed the resolution to ride safely received a wrist reminder embossed with this important message.

As part of the festivities, Kohl’s presented a check for $215,525 to support the Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids program at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital during Professor Wylde’s Animal Show at 10:30 a.m. in the Zoo’s auditorium. This donation puts Kohl’s over the $1 million mark for gifts to Rainbow.

Old Business 

New Business

Coalition Business

Next meeting is Tuesday, January 10 (location TBD; check the website!)  Thanks to all those who attended the meeting.  A SPECIAL thanks to Euclid Police Department for hosting and providing lunch!

                           Date: Wednesday, November 30
                              Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
                        Where: Cleveland Marriott East
                                         26300 Harvard Rd.
                                      Warrensville Heights

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Want to avoid hand cramps from filling out those raffle tickets? Want to save money on your raffle tickets?

Special pre-event ticket sales
$50 for 75 raffle tickets
Only available through Monday, November 28, 2011

Pre-purchase your raffle tickets and we will hae them ready and pre-labeled for you at the registration table! Tickets at the door will be $1.00 a ticket! Take advantage of this great deal!

Complete and return the pre-purchase order form to 216.983.1180 (fax) or Mandy.Thomas@UHhospitals.org

___________________________________________________________________________________________

We need Mocktail Mixers!!

If your agency is interested in “mixing it up” for a good cause, contact Chrystal at chrystal.gullett@uhhospitals.org or 216.983.1108. Fill out the Mocktail Recipe Form to get your recipe in!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Help us solicit prizes!

 Donate items and baskets for silent auction and Chinese raffle! Help us locate sponsors to help support our coalition’s injury prevention efforts!

WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and popular animated series Chuggington today announced a new partnership to teach children how to be safe in and around cars. The nationwide traffic safety campaign is geared specifically towards children from the ages of 2 to 7 and includes a public service announcement featuring characters from the show, a kid-focused safety pledge and downloadable tips and activities for parents and caregivers to use with children.  

“This exciting partnership with Chuggington will help us bring our traffic safety message to young children and parents alike,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Educating children at an early age about the importance of wearing bicycle helmets, looking both ways when crossing the street and buckling up leads to a lifetime of good traffic safety habits.”  

Motor vehicle crashes continue to be the leading cause of death for children, with 1,314 fatalities and 179,000 injuries to those 14 and younger in 2009. In 2007, an estimated 262 fatalities and 115,000 injuries to children 14 and younger occurred from pedestrian incidents involving children playing in or around motor vehicles. The new partnership unveiled today combines NHTSA’s safety guidelines for pedestrians, school buses, bikes and car seat use with Chuggington’s characters to reach parents and children.  

“Chuggington’s characters learn important life lessons in every episode of the show and often earn badges as rewards for appropriate behavior,” said Dick Rothkopf, chairman of Ludorum, the creators of the show. “The ‘Think Safe, Ride Safe, Be Safe!’ traffic safety pledge and badge is based on this concept. We hope that children will be excited to learn the rules of the road while they interact with Chuggington’s characters and earn their ‘official’ Chuggington Traffic Safety badges.”  

Today’s announcement at Harriet Tubman Elementary School coincides with National Child Passenger Safety Week and comes on the heels of a recent survey by Safe Kids USA showing there’s still room for improvement for parents installing child safety seats. Earlier this year, NHTSA released revised guidelines encouraging parents to keep their children in rear-facing child seats as long as possible up to the height and weight specifications of the seat.  

“We already know that child seats save lives and help keep our kids safe, but parents and caregivers need to know how to properly install and use them,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “That’s why, together with our safety partners, we encourage parents to choose the right seat for their child’s size and weight and to have it checked at one of the thousands of free safety seat inspection stations set up across the country for National Seat Check Saturday.” 

More than 30,000 child passenger safety technicians nationwide are participating in Child Passenger Safety Week from September 18 to 24. The week-long effort, which culminates in National Seat Check Saturday on September 24, includes both English- and at many locations – Spanish-speaking technicians who are available to answer questions and help install child safety seats. Parents should follow the federal government’s latest guidelines for selecting the appropriate type of child restraint for children through age 12 and should always read the owner’s manual for installation instructions for their child seat and vehicle.

To access the Chuggington kids pledge and online tools, visit www.chuggington.com/safety.  

To learn more about child seat guidelines or to find a local fitting station, visit www.nhtsa.gov.   

###

Thank you to all members who attended the Greater Cleveland Safe Kids/Safe Communities Member Recognition Lunch! More importantly, THANKS for all you do to help keep our communities safe!
 

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, November 1 from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. at the Euclid Public Library at 631 East 222^nd Street in Euclid. Lunch will be provided at the end of the meeting.
 

Car Seat Check Weekend

New Booster Seat Campaign – Be a Booster Booster – fill out order form for materials

My Ride My Rules – fill out order form for materials

Volunteers Needed – contact Tracey Stehura (216.983.1110 or tracey.stehura@UHhospitals.org to volunteer)

Fire Prevention Week – fill out an order form

International Walk to School Day – fill out an order form  to request a toolkit.

Halloween Safety

12^th Annual Holiday Mocktail Party