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9/ TheBucknerClarion.com April 24, 2014 Child Safety Day Park Board Hosts 2 nd Annual on May 17th (pending if on an emergency call). Road injuries and fires Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable death to children in the United States. Children four and under are at the greatest risk of fire-related injuries and deaths. Over one- third of home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms. Child abductions Every 40 seconds in the United States, a child becomes missing or is abducted. Child Safety Day will provide abduction prevention lessons and demonstrations. Children will learn prevention strategies and how to get away from a dangerous situation. New York Life Insurance will provide free child identification cards with vital information that can be distributed to authorities during an emergency. The ID cards include the child's photo and finger prints. "It's not rare to hear about a child abduction with a tragic ending," Mauzey said. "This event is our way to help prevent that from happening." She also said that everyone benefits from Child Safety Day because it allows first responders, local businesses, educators and community members to come together and establish a collective priority to keep kids safe. "Everyone can get out, meet each other and know that we are all educating ourselves on how to keep kids safe," Mauzey said. "All departments work together for children's safety. A lot of kids ride bikes, and run and walk through town. As an educated community, we can help watch all of our children and look out for their safety and well-being." Child Safety Day is free and open to the public. Buckner residents, as well as other communities are encouraged to attend. To volunteer or to donate to Child Safety Day, contact Jessica Mauzey at 816.284.9474. Losing a child in a tragic accident is every parent's worst nightmare. Many families lose children to injuries from crashes, drowning deaths, fires, poisoning and falls. Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 14. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every childhood injury death, more than 1,000 are treated or receive medical consultation for a nonfatal injury. In order to prevent these injuries and potentially save a child's life, proper safety precautions are necessary. To equip parents with child safety tools and techniques, Buckner Park Board is hosting its 2 nd Annual Child Safety Day on May 17 th , from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heisler-Burns Park, 409 Veterans Drive. The event will feature fun injury prevention activities for children, as well as resources for parents about safety measures that aren't always talked about, such as concussions and lead poisoning. From hands on games and activ- ities to prizes and giveaways, this event teaches safety in a way that kids can understand – fun. "Engaging the children while having fun at the same time really helps them to learn," said Jessica Mauzey, Buckner Park Board secretary. Various educa- tional booths will provide infor- mation on railroad and pedestrian safety, sports safety and lead poisoning. Inflatable bounce houses and concessions will also be available. The Bicycle Rodeo will teach children about bicycle safety. Children ages 5 to 14 have the highest rates of nonfatal bicycle- related injuries, accounting for almost 60 percent of all bicycle- related injuries seen in U.S. emergency rooms, according to the CDC. Different stations throughout the Bicycle Rodeo will teach helmet safety, hand signals, how to stop and start, and the importance of looking both ways, followed by a practice run through an obstacle course. Members of the Buckner Police Department and Fort Osage Fire Protection District will demonstrate valuable safety tips to prevent unintentional injuries. Emergency vehicles will be on hand and participants can watch the Life Flight Eagle land on the football field in the park By Hollis Schnieders Park Board Secretary Jessica Mauzey, Director Ed Burns.

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