Edgewater Park - School Days
by Marianne Rapacz
More than 1,000 children attended School Days, an event sponsored by Cleveland Lakefront and held at Edgewater Park. The event was split into two areas - the Activity Area an the Fun Fair. In the Activity Area, students moved from station to station and spent a specified amount of time in each. In the Fun Fair area, students were able to visit whatever organizations interested them and were able to spend as much time as they liked at each. The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Center was set up in the Fun Fair area and kept a constant flow of enthusiastic students throughout the day.
At the Rainbow booth, students were able to see a demonstration using the roll over convincer. The roll over convincer is a platform that holds the cab of a truck that can be rolled over using a lever. Dummies are put into the truck cab both buckled and unbuckled. When the cab is rolled over as in a crash, the buckled dummies stay in their seats while the unbuckled dummies move around the cab and eventually are thrown out of the vehicle. The demonstration was used to show students the importance of wearing safety belts.
Also at the booth, students had the opportunity to spin the spin wheel and answer questions about swim and bike safety. Students won bubbles and pencils and also received pedestrian safety workbooks.
Brook Park Bike Rodeo
by Rickiesha March
On June 9th, Nikesha Yarbrough and I went to Brook Park Bike Rodeo. This was the first year that Brook Park held a bike rodeo and the event went off great. Mayor Mark Elliot and Police Chief Kevin McQuiad were very supportive along with rest of the police officers.
Nikesha and I did a “Safety Scientist” presentation and discussed bicycle safety rules. We then asked all the children to line up so we could check their bicycle helmets to ensure proper fit. Both parents and children were really happy that we were fitting helmets. The bike rodeo began after all children had their helmet inspected.
I was in charge of the “Rock-Dodge” station and Nikesha was in charge of “Figure 8.” We both had an excellent time. This event highlights why being a part of the Injury Prevention Center at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is very exciting; no two days are ever the same.
Chester Township Safety Town
by Amy Kwiatkowski
Together, The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Center and the Chesterland Police Department took part in planning and administering the city’s “Safety Township”. Children from Chester Township attended one of the two week long safety town programs offered this year. Every new day had a new safety topic including stranger safety, fire safety, school bus safety, bike safety, pedestrian safety, and seatbelt safety. Children were not simply taught important safety lessons but instead were engaged in hands on learning activities. Most of the children have never been in a school setting and activities were carefully planned to get the children interested and actively involved.
On Wednesday, all the children brought their bike helmets to get properly fitted. While most of the children own bike helmets, it was obvious that very few of them were fitted to the individual child. The children knew to wear their helmet, but they also learned that it is important that their helmet fits. Parents were given instructions on how to fit a helmet so they can properly fit other children within their families.
A major highlight of the week was when Karrie the Kangaroo visited and brought t-shirts for the children to color, a big story book, and an important lesson on riding in booster seats and car seats. Every child was measured and weighed and instructed on the proper seat need to be safe in the car.
Hiram House
by Latriece Prince-Wheeler
Hiram House Camp is a resident summer camp for children ages six through eleven. Our street team went to Hiram House on two separate Tuesday evenings, and set up three different stations with games discussing various summer safety topics. The children rotated from station to station.
Some of the games and activitis included pedestrian safety Bingo, swim safety matching game, and a sensory game. In Bingo, the Street Team described a safety device or situation, and the children marked it on their cards.
Amy and I facilitated the Safety Jeopardy Game. The game is similar to the popular game show, but each topic relates to a different safety topic. The children were so receptive to the game and every child participated equally. It was very exciting to see each child being eagered to answer the questions correctly.
I was very pleased to be a part of those children's lives for that moment.
With These Hands Daycare
by Nikesha Yarbrough
I have had many great experiences out with the “Street Team”; however, I truly enjoyed myself when I went to With These Hands daycare. I visited the daycare from July 16th thru July 20th and each day focused on a specific topic.
On Monday, Tracey and I talked to approximately 15 kids about poison prevention. The kids watched the "Spike Poison Pal Prevention" video, played the game featured in the video, completed the “circle me” worksheet, and made the poison heart craft. After the event, teacher Ms. Banks was given parent/teacher sheets for the kids to take home.
Tuesday, Rickiesha and I discussed bike rules and performed Safety Scientist with the kids. The kids were given Frisbees, bike stickers, coloring sheets, and parent/teacher sheets.
On Wednesday, Latriece joined me and we talked to the kids about fire safety. We played the “Thumbs up/Thumbs down” game and had the kids crawl under the sheet to practice escaping a fire. We also practiced stop, drop and roll with the children. Each child received fire hats and beach balls along with parent sheets.
Thursday Amy and I taught child passenger safety with Karrie the Kangaroo and the kids loved it. We read the book to the kids, had them color Karrie t-shirts, and measured their weight and height. They also received stickers according to if they should be in a booster seat or a car seat.
On Friday Amy came again with me to recap the safety topics with the kids and to attempt stranger danger safety. The kids really remembered a lot of bits and pieces from each safety lesson. I was impressed. After the review, we talked to the kids about what strangers look like and some situations that they might face when around people they don’t know. Naturally, we told them what they should try to be as safe as possible. We played a game showing them pictures of people in uniforms that they can trust. The kids were each given a book of crayons and stickers.
The kids at With These Hands daycare were not only very adorable and cute, but they were also excited and ready to learn as much they could from our programs. It really made me feel good that the kids were happy to see me and always made sure to tell me bye when I was leaving. The teachers were exactly the same way. They were very nice, friendly and supportive. They stayed in the room while we did our presentation and helped out when necessary. It was just a pleasant experience altogether. I am very happy that we were able to attend
Updated on:
September 14, 2007
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