[E-updates] Kansas SAFE KIDS Presents 2003 Awards

[Lisa Patterson]

FOR RELEASE ON DECEMBER 2, 2003


Contact: 	Jan Stegelman  785-296-1223 or
Cherie Sage 785-296-0351




Kansas SAFE KIDS Presents 2003 Awards 

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition today honored five organizations and
individuals who have helped to make more Kansas kids SAFE KIDS during 2003.

 "This is a great opportunity to recognize the individuals and organizations
in our state that have contributed to the mission of Kansas SAFE KIDS -
preventing the leading killer of our children - unintentional injury," said
Jan Stegelman, Coordinator, Kansas SAFE KIDS. 
Service Recognition Awards are given to a member organization or individual
who has made a significant contribution to the mission and goals of the
Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition.  The first Service Recognition Award was
presented to Mary Kay Freed of Topeka, a volunteer who has gone the extra
mile in the area of child passenger safety. She is a certified Child
Passenger Safety Technician Instructor and also a certified Child Passenger
Safety Special Needs Instructor. She speaks Spanish fluently and is a
valuable asset in targeting the Hispanic community.  Through her efforts,
the only National SAFE KIDS fitting station in Kansas was implemented and
still continues in Topeka. She works with families to receive and correctly
learn to install and use car seats every Tuesday evening and every Sunday
afternoon.  She also checks seats at the monthly check lanes at AAA and
regularly scheduled check lanes at the local GM dealerships and Wal-Mart.  

The Second Special Service Recognition Award was presented to an
organization that has contributed to the mission of Kansas SAFE KIDS in a
variety of injury risk areas - Lawrence Douglas County Fire & Medical.  In
addition to distributing free smoke alarms, this organization provides fire
safety public education to all schools in Lawrence and most Douglas county
schools as well.  They have taken a lead role in promoting helmet use not
only locally, but also statewide and beyond, including the distribution and
fitting of thousands of free bicycle helmets to children in Lawrence. The
organization also provides space for a Child Passenger Safety fitting
station for the community.  All of these efforts would not be possible
without strong administrative support and the dedication of the firefighters
and paramedics themselves.  

 Local Coalition of the Year is awarded to a local Coalition or local
chapter of the    Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition that has excelled in bringing
together varied and   diverse members of the community to actively
participate in SAFE KIDS activities, hosted a wide variety of successful,
creative injury prevention activities and demonstrated high volunteer
participation.  The award this year was presented to a local Coalition with
a lot of ideas, spirit and energy, the Douglas County SAFE KIDS Coalition.
This strong Coalition brings together community partnerships to implement
their ideas.  Their progressive thinking has recently led them to receive a
helmet legislative grant from National SAFE KIDS.  They have a strong
presence at community events and have been very effective with their child
seat check lanes.  They are a model of what community collaboration can be,
and yet they keep working to do better.  John Drees, Coordinator of Douglas
County SAFE KIDS Coalition accepted the award.  

A new award this year, Outstanding Achievement in Child Safety, is given to
any organization, community or individual in Kansas who has demonstrate a
strong dedication and commitment to unintentional childhood injury
prevention by implementing one or more innovative injury prevention programs
in at least one priority risk area. The award was presented to the
Directorate of Environment and Safety at Fort Riley.  The DES implemented a
program in 1990 to inspect all childcare facilities on the installation.
When safety hazards are identified, the facility is closed and the provider
is given 30 days to correct problems.  During the last five years, no
children have visited the hospital because of injuries received at Ft.
Riley's childcare facilities.  The DES also has a program to inspect all 70
public playgrounds on the base.  The directorate presents a program, modeled
after the state's "Kansas Clicks" presentation at the fort's elementary
schools and goes one step further.  Four times a year, drivers and
passengers are reminded to buckle up while stopped at the fort's exit gates.
Child passengers are given prizes for being properly restrained.  The DES
teams up with the Irwin Army Community Hospital to conduct regular child
safety seat check up events.   The directorate also promotes a summer safety
campaign called "101 Days of Summer Safety".    Herb Abel accepted the award
on behalf of DES.  
 
The Outstanding Coalition Member award is the highest award given by the
Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition  and is presented for outstanding service to the
Coalition and to Kansas children in the interest of childhood injury
prevention by an individual member of the Coalition. The 2003 award was
presented to an individual who has demonstrated her dedication not only to
Kansas SAFE KIDS but also to the children of Kansas - Ami Hyten.  Ami
initiated through the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association a bike helmet
distribution program that has benefited children in all areas of the state -
and in the process has become an expert helmet fitter.   She has provided
leadership to the Coalition by serving two terms on the executive board;
with 2 years as chair, during which time the Coalition received  501c(3)
designation and released the first ever progress report on childhood injury
in Kansas.  She has represented the Coalition at numerous press events and
volunteers at events throughout the year.  

Kansas SAFE KIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit coalition of 67 statewide
organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries
to Kansas children ages 0-14.   Local coalitions and chapters are located in
Anderson, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Johnson,
Marion, Montgomery, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Rice, Saline, and Shawnee
Counties, as well as Chanute, Hutchinson, Junction City, Leavenworth,
Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, and Wichita.  Kansas SAFE KIDS is affiliated
with the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.

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_____________________________
Lisa K. Patterson
Communications Coordinator
City of Lawrence
PO Box 708
Lawrence, KS 66044
(785) 832-3406
fax (785) 832-3405
lpatterson at ci.lawrence.ks.us
http://www.lawrenceks.org