Issue 60, March 2013 - Safekids

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THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Community events HAWKE’S BAY: Challenging future leaders to be injury prevention advocates Te Taitimu Trust’s youth leadership wananga (training) aims to empower future leaders by taking them out of their normal comfort zone and placing them in situations that will enhance their leadership qualities. Safekids New Zealand was invited at their Tamumu Camp in Central Hawke’s Bay last January to challenge the rangitahi (youth) and tamariki (children) to be leaders in child injury prevention. “As future leaders it is in their duty to protect the tamariki in their community so they can enjoy a life, free from the adverse effects of injury,” said Safekids Kaiwhakahaere Blackie Tohiariki. Safekids delivered talks on cycling and driveway run over injuries. Zack Makoare, Te Taitimu Trust Chief Executive said the messages were well received. “They were even used as themes for group skits at the concert evening. The rangitahi and tamariki showed understanding and creativity when giving their unique and entertaining interpretations of these messages,” Zack said. Safekids NZ would like to thank John Tangaere QSM of the Hastings Police and Cheryl Te Amo of Kahungunu Executive (pictured right with Blackie) for helping deliver child injury prevention messages at the camp. NAPIER: ‘Drive-through’ driveway display unveiled If you’re visiting Plunket’s new Hawke’s Bay hub, ask if you can check your car’s driveway visibility by trying out their new run over safety display. Based on the same concept as the Safekids Driveway Run Over Kit, this version has the 10 metre measuring tool painted right on the new tar seal outside the hub’s parking lot. “Each day we put the dolls out and park a car in position to demonstrate how a driveway run over injury can easily happen,” said Tanya Upritchard Plunket Car Seat and Safety Service Hawkes Bay Manager. The display has been received very well by visiting Plunket clients. Car Seat and Safety Service Manager Tanya Upritchard (left) and car seat technician Trina Maney unveiling their ‘drive through’ run over display. “Many are shocked at how far they couldn’t see while sitting in the driver’s seat,” Tanya added. If you would like to find out more about Plunket Hawke’s Bay’s driveway display, email: TE ANAU: Driveway messages at the Santa Parade The summer heat didn’t stop Caroline Carter and her team of volunteer kids from marching down to Lion Park to promote driveway run over prevention at the Te Anau Santa Parade. “The kids and RINO (stands for Run over Is Not OK) were handing out Safekids warning signs stickers and we had a driveway kit on display, thanks to Plunket Invercargill’s Kathryn Implemans.” The warning signs and driveway kit are excellent tools to promote driveway run over prevention awareness. Safekids provides the warning signs free, and has a list of driveway kits online for those who want to use one at events. For more information, email or visit: Campaign@safekids.org.nz www.safekids.org.nz/index.php/page/driveway-run-over-kitlocations Tanya.Upritchard@plunket.org.nz 10 Safekids News: March 2013 Issue No 60
SAFEKIDS PARTNERS From the Office of the Children’s Commissioner Poverty stopping our children from being ‘safe kids’ According to the Office of the Children’s Commissioner’s recently released report Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand: Evidence for Action, there are a startlingly high number of children suffering from poor health as a result of conditions that a country like New Zealand simply should not be seeing. More than 36,000 children are admitted to hospital every year for illness linked to poverty. On average about 140 abused or neglected children under the age of 12 years old are admitted to hospital with injuries every year. Office of the Children’s Commissioner Dr Russell Wills said these numbers reflect the fact New Zealand has real, abject child poverty. “Our child poverty rates are more than double what they were when I was a child, more than three times that of my parents generation and higher than many other countries with similar GDP.” Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand Dr Wills highlighted the harmful effects of poverty on the growth and development of children. “Poverty often results in low educational achievement, poor health outcomes, the feeling of being stigmatised and having weak social networks. It also means missing out on important childhood opportunities like school outings and sports activities.” Dr Wills also mentioned the realities faced by those at the coalface of our public services. “As most paediatricians, social workers, emergency department staff and low-decile school teachers know, poor children are living in cold, mouldy houses and don’t have enough food.” “These families may have debts with their GPs, which means they may not go to see them until it’s too late. Many get sick or don’t learn because they missed breakfast,” Dr Wills said. Despite these challenges, the Children’s Commissioner believes we can still make a difference to the lives of the 270,000 New Zealand children living in poverty. evidence for action “Child poverty doesn’t have to be a life sentence of ill health and poor job prospects. The bottom line is that we need to do more for children. The effect of child poverty on health and educational outcomes costs us all,” Dr Wills said. “Government is working to ensure they get it right for children. This includes work on the Children’s Action Plan, on-time immunisation, reducing acute rheumatic fever, and reducing assaults and abuse on children. But more can be done”. The Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand: Evidence in Action report outlines pragmatic, robust, well-informed and cost-effective ways child poverty can be addressed. These include investing in housing, supporting the development of community hubs, a collaborative, nationwide food-in-schools programme in partnership with business and voluntary organisations, and the introduction of a micro-financing model to help low-income families. You can read the Solutions to Child Poverty in New Zealand report and a summary of recommendations at: www.occ.org.nz Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty ‘Socioeconomic gradient’ pattern on child injury A socioeconomic gradient is evident in hospital admission data, for almost all causes of child unintentional injury. Safekids New Zealand’s report Analysis of Unintentional Child Injury Data in New Zealand reveal a strong relationship between injury and social deprivation. “Children from lower socio-economic status households (New Zealand Deprivation Index Quintile 9 and 10) are more likely to be admitted for unintentional injury, than children from any other socio-economic group,” said Moses ‘Alatini, Safekids NZ Policy Analyst. The economic cost of mortality and morbidity to the nation is also an major issue, and has grown at an alarming rate. “The average cost to the ACC scheme for all child injury claims11 between 2003 and 2008 was $117.2 million per year. During the 2007/2008 financial year, all child injury claims cost the scheme $146.6 million,” Moses said. To read this Safekids report, visit: http://www.safekids.org.nz/index. php/page/Position_Papers TAUPO: Safety Days Road Show in full swing The Safekids Taupo Coalition’s Safety Days hit the road again this summer, making sure children and their parents in the Central Plateau are reminded of important child safety messages. A road safety show for 900 of Taupo’s 7-9 yearolds was sponsored by Contact Energy, Taupo District Council, Police and REAP. featuring safety messages on fire, water, earthquake, road and playground safety. A water safety event with Salvation Army playgroup parents was led by Christine Belfit of Sport Waikato and Laura Dawson of Central Plateau REAP. The coalition also featured at events in Mangakino and Turangi. Road safety messages and the driveway run over kit were hits in places where they were rolled out. For more information about the Taupo Coalition’s safety day road show, email: chutchin@taupo.govt.nz laura@reap.org.nz Taupo kids get ‘Gangnam Style’ on Safety, thanks to Contact Energy, Taupo District Council, Police and REAP. Salvation Army Playgroup learns about life-jackets. Life Education Trust’s Harold the Giraffe with the Safekids Driveway kit in Turangi. 11 Safekids News: March 2013 Issue No 60
Page 1 and 2: BCG2-H GNZ2370 Bike Safety A4 Poste
Page 3 and 4: INJURY PREVENTION NEWS HOUSING NZ,
Page 5 and 6: ADVOCACY MATTERS NZTA: Proposed chi
Page 7 and 8: THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: New School Comp
Page 9: THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Community event

Issue 60, March 2013 - Safekids

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