Vol. 29, No. 2
Safety to go
The Junior League of Dayton and The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton have teamed up to form POWER: Program of Wellness Education and Resources. POWER provides broad community outreach of health and safety for children and families throughout the Miami Valley.
Dayton Children's, the Junior League and the POWER Mobile will be in many neighborhoods during the coming months.
POWER was created as a tool to address preventable injuries identified through the regional pediatric trauma and emergency center at Dayton Children’s. The program will also address nutrition and child abuse since statistics have shown a need locally and nationally for education on these topics.
The main outreach tool of POWER is the POWER Mobile, a retired Dayton Children’s transport unit. The POWER Mobile has been transformed to a brightly colored and kid-friendly advocacy unit.
The POWER Mobile will travel to schools and community events to educate children and families about key advocacy issues. Through computer and magnetic games, children will learn about household safety and nutrition. Also stored inside the POWER Mobile are “Safety Stations” on key topics. These are hands-on learning activities for kids.
The “Safety Stations” are pulled from the POWER Mobile and displayed on tables for kids to explore. Volunteers will teach children 10 safety topics, which include how to call 911, check smoke detectors and what to wear when riding a bike or scooter.
The POWER Mobile offers many interactive features to help kids learn about health and safety issues.
In addition to the hands-on activities, the POWER Mobile will serve as a means to transport safety devices such as car seats and bike helmets to events. Dayton Children’s, the Junior League and the POWER Mobile will be at15 health and safety events during the coming weeks. We will be in Huber Heights, Englewood, Dayton, Urbana, Centerville, Xenia, Germantown, Troy, Beavercreek and Eaton.
According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, death and injury to children in motor vehicle crashes can be reduced by up to 71 percent by using a properly installed car seat or booster seat. POWER offers volunteers and resources for regularly scheduled car seat checks throughout the area. It also offers educational materials on this topic.
Bike helmets have been associated with reducing head injury by up to 85 percent. Through POWER, Dayton Children’s and McDonald’s Stay Ahead of the Game program (a program providing helmets to law enforcement agencies for distribution), children throughout the Miami Valley will be fitted with helmets and will receive valuable information on helmet safety.
Additionally, POWER offers a healthy snacks program to child care centers. POWER volunteers will visit child care centers throughout the Miami Valley to teach children the importance of nutrition and will help the children to make an easy, nutritious snack.
Children’s advocacy is an important part in Dayton Children’s initiatives. POWER is a big step to increase education and awareness of preventable injuries and healthy lifestyles.
For more information about the POWER Mobile, contact Michelle Brown, community relations specialist at Dayton Children’s, at 937-641-3385.
Table of Contents |
1 Go outside and enjoy the spring!
2 Fun - and safety - in the sun
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