Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death among children age 14 and under in the United States, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign.
In 1996, unintentional injuries resulted in the deaths of more than 775 children under age 1; 2,100 children ages 1 to 4; 1,550 children ages 5 to 9; and 1,800 children from ages 10 to 14.
Friday, the Kosciusko County Safe Kids Seventh Annual Safety Fest will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center Lake Park and Pavilion. The purpose of the Safety Fest will be to educate children and their parents on the different aspects of safety.
"We've added a few more booths this year," said Darlene Eherenman, Kosciusko County Safe Kids coordinator. She said she is happy to see all the agencies on board, which shows their commitment to children.
Safety Fest kicks off at 9:30 a.m. with the Ronald McDonald show on the center stage in the Center Lake Pavilion.
Registration for a baby-crawling contest is at 10 a.m. with the event beginning at 10:30 a.m. The contest is sponsored by Multi-Township EMS, which also will have information on farm safety. The purpose of the contest is to make parents and children aware of what's at the eye level of a crawling child.
At noon, the A.C. Sparks Safety Show will be held on the center stage in the pavilion. A half hour later, the Good Samaritan helicopter will land at the park.
Booths will be set up at the park during Safety Fest. Each booth is sponsored by a different participating agency. For children to qualify for the grand prize of a bicycle and helmet, the child must attend at least 10 of the 20 different booths. The bike and helmet are being provided by McDonald's. The child need not be present at the drawing to win.
"The more booths they attend, the better," Eherenman said. "We encourage them to attend all the booths."
The Girl Scouts will have a booth on Internet safety.
Warsaw Police Department will host a bicycle rodeo and Warsaw DARE will be on hand, too.
Operation Life Savers will have a booth on railroad crossing safety. Kosciusko County is listed as one of the top counties in the state for car-train accidents.
The Warsaw Fire Department will have fire trucks on display while the Kosciusko County Firemen's Association will have the safety house on hand.
Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District will have a booth regarding the dangers of lead and mercury poisoning. They also will exchange person's mercury thermometers for digitial ones.
MedStat's booth will be on the different kind of poisonings. The dangers of the sun and the proper way of applying sunscreen will be the focus of Kosciusko Community Hospital's booth. They also will have information on how to look for signs of skin cancer.
U.S. Coast Guard will have information on water safety, while the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department will have fingerprinting. Heartline and Teens & Tots will have information on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. American Red Cross and the Warsaw Parks Department will have a demonstration at the lake on the proper way to rescue someone drowning by the "reach and throw" techniques.
Mental Health Association, along with the Child Abuse Prevention Council and the Domestic Violence Task Force, will have information on child abuse prevention. Warsaw Community Public Library's booth will provide information on pedestrian safety.
Kosciusko County Animal Welfare League will discuss proper animal handling and animal bite prevention. Warsaw School Bus Transportation Department will have information on bus safety. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources will also be on hand as will Cow Country and the Governor's Council On Impaired and Dangerous Driving.
Eherenman said, "We encourage parents to attend, especially if they have any questions about their child's safety."
Safety Fest began seven years ago with the help of Shaunu Lybarger, of McDonald's, who recognized the increased need for parents to know more about the hazzards facing children. In its first year, it had approximately six or seven agencies participating, Eherenman said. Three years ago, Kosciusko County Safe Kids chapter started and joined in the efforts. This year, there are more than 20 agencies participating, Eherenman said.
"Safe Kids' purpose is to bring awareness that unintentional injuries are the No. 1 cause of death for children under 14," said Eherenman.
Along with activities and safety information, there will be two fund-raisers at the Safety Fest.
MTEMS volunteers will be selling barbecue chicken as a fund-raiser to pay for volunteer training, equipment and scholarships.
Sno-Cones will be sold to pay for the annual Safety Fest.
Along with Safety Fest, a banner is on display at the Warsaw Community Public Library that illustrates the number of children in Indiana who died in 1996 from unintentional injuries.
Thursday, from 11 a.m to 2 p.m., the mobile car seat inspection unit will be at Center Lake Park. Parents must have their children present to have their car seats inspected. Nationally certified inspectors will inspect the car seats.
More than 90 percent of child restraints are misused or improperly installed in Kosciusko County, Eherenman said. Nationwide, more than 80 percent of child restraints are misused or improperly installed.
