MUST SEE CHILD INJURY PREVENTION SESSIONS! - Safekids

THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL: Community events
Major sponsor:
Rotorua: ‘Safety Rocks’ spring campaign under way
Thousands of paving stones will be
sent to childcare centres around
Rotorua this spring, all part of an
innovative education campaign
that aims to promote important
messages to help keep young
children from being run over in their
home driveways.
Launched early this year, Treasure Rotorua/
Safekids Rotorua coalition’s ‘Safety Rocks’
encourages families to identify a safe,
supervised location where children stand
and wait (their waving spot) while vehicles
in the driveway are being moved. “It’s
important that drivers can see the children
on their Safety Rocks so they’re absolutely
certain that the children are not in the path of
the vehicle,” said Safety Rocks project team
leader Julie Millar.
Rotorua District
Council also
distributed car
polishing cloths
with the Safekids
warning sign—
what a ‘neat’
way to promote
prevention
messages in
driveways!
The paving stones are provided to childcare
organisations in the area, free of charge.
“Safety Rocks are painted by the children in
their own design which increases ownership
of their safe waving space at home, whilst
also developing art skills. Once dry, the
rocks are taken home and placed in their
identified safe waving spot,” Julie added.
The Ngongotaha Lions Club and
international students (past and present)
from Waiariki Institute of Technology helped
to basecoat the pavers before delivering
them to early childhood centres. “With their
help, we have 2,800 pavers done and waiting
to be delivered to childcare organisations in
the Rotorua district this spring!
Generous financial support for the project
has been provided by three local agencies,
namely Creative Communities, Drivewise
and Treasure Rotorua. “We would also
like to thank Rotorua District Council,
Treasures Rotorua/ Safekids Rotorua
Coalition members, and other organisations
for donating or giving discounts on
the materials we used. They include
Placemakers, Firth, Resene, Wattyl, Paint
Aids, Damar Industries, Colin Millar, Mozart
Graphic Identity and Paper Plus,” Julie
added.
For more information about the ‘Safety
Rock’ campaign, email
safetyrockpainting@gmail.com
WAIRARAPA: Holiday programme on
cycling, driveway, truck safety a hit
In the Wairarapa, the local coalition organised a school holiday programme
which promoted cycling, driveway run over and truck safety in partnership
with the Masterton Safe and Healthy Community Council (MSHCC).
“The event was a huge success, with
9-13 year olds moving through a series
of stations where they learned safety
messages and skills. This included a truck
safety station led by Sandy Walker from
the Road Transport Association and the
local truck company, McCarthy’s,” said
Kerry Hefferen, Road Safety Coordinator
from the Wairarapa Road Safety Council.
Other stations include the ‘Be Seen’ stop,
where children made there own reflective
cut outs to put on bike frames and
helmets, and a video presentation stop on
the risks of cycling without helmets.
A helmet fitting and bicycle check station
was also in place, thanks to the Masterton
Avanti Plus who assigned a mechanic
who made much needed bike repairs.
An obstacle course was also set up,
designed to test and improve the
children’s bike handling skills. Exercises
include a slow ride, slalom, hand signals,
braking exercises, straight line riding and
looking back.
Younger children also got involved, thanks
to the Safekids Driveway Safety Kit and
Masterton’s new road safety mascot, Jack
the Kaka.
Finally, a colouring competition which
promoted helmet use was held.
Representatives from the Fire Service
were the judges and they awarded 27
cycle helmets as prizes.
For more information about the Wairarapa
safety-themed holiday
programme, email:
rsc@wairsc.org.nz
(Kerry)
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Safekids News: September 2012 Issue No 58