Annual Safe Kids Day Health & Safety Fair Aims to Keeps Kids Safer

By Pamela Stoker, MA, Trauma Injury Prevention Specialist, Sutter’s Eden Medical Center

Families across Alameda County are invited to Safe Kids Day, a fun and informative health and safety fair designed to promote safety for children. Safe Kids Alameda County Coalition, in partnership with AEG Community Foundation, is hosting the annual event at the Oakland Arena on Saturday, July 19th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Safe Kids Day brings together community members, local organizations as well as private and public health agencies for a fun-filled day of education, entertainment and free resources.

Children who attend Safe Kids Day will have the opportunity to get a free multisport/bicycle helmet, have it properly fitted and even take part in a bike rodeo where they’ll learn and practice biking skills.

Free Helmet and Educational Stations

From 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, children of all ages and sizes will have the opportunity to receive a multisport/bicycle helmet –while supplies last— along with tips on proper helmet fitting and use to ensure maximum protection.

“We know that wearing bicycle helmets can make a huge difference in preventing serious injuries at all ages,” said Dr. Elyssa Feinberg, trauma medical director at Sutter’s Eden Medical Center. “Sutter Health is proud to be able provide 500 bicycle helmets for free to help safeguard our community.”

Children, parents, and caregivers will also be able to visit a wide variety of educational stations providing health, wellness, and safety information aimed at empowering families with the educational tools and resources they need to keep their kids safe. Examples include dental hygiene, poison control and medication safety, car seat use and guidelines, first aid and CPR, water safety, pedestrian safety, fire safety and many more.

Activities To Make Safety Fun

While parents and caregivers connect with local safety experts and learn about community resources, children will be entertained with bounce houses, face painting, games and music.

Kids can also spend time decorating their bike helmet at a decorating station.

“Children are more likely to wear a helmet they have picked out or decorated themselves. We’ll discuss why helmet use is essential for kids, and how it can protect them from concussions or other brain injuries. We will also offer the opportunity to try on concussion goggles that simulate the effects of traumatic brain injury or concussion to show children what it’s like so they can recognize the symptoms,” said Stefania Kaplanes, trauma injury prevention coordinator at Alameda Health System.

With a helmet properly fitted to their head, children can also take part in a bike rodeo set up by Bike East Bay, which will allow kids to practice their biking skills on a safe, marked course while learning the rules of the road. Experts will be on hand to give safety tips and demonstrate safe riding behaviors.

Commitment to Community Safety

Safe Kids Day not only raises awareness about child safety but also helps build a sense of community.

“It takes everyone working together to make safety happen,” says Kathryn Woolbright, Alameda County Emergency Medical Services injury prevention manager. “Bringing all these agencies together for this event shows how much we can accomplish when we join forces to protect the children.”

For more information visit www.safekids.org

How to Properly Fit a Helmet

Proper fit means that the helmet covers the forehead, and the straps are adjusted so that the helmet does not slip around. Follow these four steps to ensure proper helmet fit for you or your child:

• Sit the helmet on the head so that it is level, with only one or two finger-widths above the eyebrow uncovered.
• Adjust the side straps so that the point of the “V” sits just below the ears.
• Connect the chin strap and tighten it so that it’s snug beneath the chin, so that no more than one or two fingers fit between the strap and the chin.
• Push the helmet back on the head. Can you move the helmet more than an inch? Tighten the straps in front of the ears (loosen the rear straps so that the “V” points still sit just below the ears). If you can push the helmet forward, adjust the straps behind the ears. In the end, the helmet should not be moveable more than an inch in any direction.