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6/ TheBucknerClarion.com May 28, 2015 Kids are notorious for falling, crashing and tumbling daily – accidents happen. However, much more serious unintentional injuries, disabilities and even death, are possible if proper safety measures are not taken. Exploring preventative measures both parents and kids can take to maintain safety is the focus of Child Safety Day. This year, the Buckner Park Board is hosting its 3rd Annual Child Safety Day on May 30, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Heisler-Burns Park, 409 Veterans Drive. The event promotes child safety through giving parents and kids the tools and techniques to prevent unintentional injuries, which are the number one killer of children ages one to 14. Activities and topics covered at the upcoming event include the Bicycle Rodeo, Life Flight Eagle, child ID cards, KC Zoomobile and an inflatable bounce house. The Buckner Police Department, Fort Osage Fire Protection, Lee's Summit Police Department Motorcycle Unit, Jackson County Sheriff's Department, Operation LifeSaver, HCC of Rural Missouri, Buckner Mid-Continent Library and Girl Scouts are among those involved with helping educate visitors. Concessions will be available, along with fun giveaways, including bicycles with helmets and Royals tickets! Oftentimes, introducing a child to bike or scooter riding makes parents' stress levels skyrocket. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, apart from automobiles, bicycles are tied to more childhood injuries than any other consumer product. And nonmotorized scooters cause more injuries to kids than any other toy. However, Safe Kids Worldwide also reported that helmets reduce the risk of head injury by at least 45 percent, brain injury by 33 percent, facial injury by 27 percent and fatal injury by 29 percent. To learn proper helmet use, top safety experts from SafeKids.org and HealthyChildren.org have a few recommendations: ● Make sure your child has the right size helmet and wears it every time when riding, skating or scooting. A helmet should be worn squarely on top of the head, covering the top of the forehead. If it is tipped back, it will not protect the forehead. The helmet fits well if it does not move around on the head or slide down over the wearer's eyes when pushed or pulled. The chin strap should be adjusted to fit snugly. ● Kids learn many behaviors from watching mom and dad, so it is extra important for parents to model proper behavior. Be sure to always wear a helmet and keep track of your child's growth, that way you will know when it is time to adjust or purchase a new helmet. An infant's or child's helmet should fit for several years. Most models have removable fitting pads that can be replaced with thinner ones as the child's head grows. ● A child's helmet should meet the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) standards. All helmets manufactured or imported for use after March 1999 must comply with a mandatory safety standard issued by the CPSC. Any helmet meeting these standards is labeled on the inside. And when it is time to purchase a new helmet, let your child pick out their own; they will be more likely to wear it for every ride. The car is another area where parents can teach and model safety to kids. Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States, but correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. A whopping 73 percent of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, experts recommend going over the "Car Seat Checklist:" 1. Is my child's car seat installed properly? If you have concerns, learn how to install your car seat for free through hosted car seat inspection events available near you. Certified technicians or your local fire department can help make sure your car seat is properly installed. 2. Is my child safe in a used car seat? Buy a used car seat only if you know its full crash history. That means you must buy it from someone you know, not from a thrift store or over the Inter- net. Once a car seat has been in a crash, it needs to be replaced. 3. Am I wearing my seatbelt at all times? When adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts, so practice being a good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too. Arguably the most alarming threat to a child's safety is abduction. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, last year alone, there were 466,949 entries for missing children under the age of 18 into the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC). The Cable News Network (CNN) reported that in the most recent study published by the Department of Justice, of the 797,500 children reported missing in a one-year period, 203,900 were abducted by family members, 58,200 were abducted by non-relatives and 115 were classified as being taken by a stranger. Child Watch of North America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and recovery of missing, abused and exploited children, offers these important tips for children and parents: Safety Tips for Children ● Know your name, address and phone number(s). ● Learn how and when to call 911. ● If you are scared of someone, run to safety. ● Have a "Call List" and know how and when to use it. ● Don't let anyone on the phone or at the door know that you are home alone. ● If you ever get lost in a mall, ask the closest store clerk for help and then stay where you are until you are found. ● Avoid shortcuts when you are walking from one place to another. ● Tell your parents or a trusted adult if some- one is asking you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. ● Always ask your parents for permission be- fore getting on the Internet. ● Never talk to people online without your parent's permission Tips for Parents ● Work hard to establish trust and communica- tion with your children, early on. ● Don't ever leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it is running or not. ● Make sure you know how to find or contact your children at all times. ● Take an active role in your children's activi- ties. ● As tired as you may be, take the time to listen intently to your children when they tell you they had a bad dream. There could be a reason. Trust your instincts. ● Question and monitor anyone who takes an unusual interest in your children. ● Teach your children that they can be rude to an adult if they feel threatened in any way. They need to hear it from you directly be- cause this message often contradicts every- thing they have heard before. ● Check websites for registered offenders in your neighborhood. Talk to your children about why these people should be avoided. ● Keep your family computer in a central loca- tion that is easily monitored and avoid letting your children have Internet access in unsu- pervised areas (i.e. computers in their bed- rooms, etc.). For more useful safety tips and demonstrations, be sure to attend Child Safety Day, which is free and open to the community of Buckner and the surrounding areas. To volunteer or to donate to Child Safety Day, contact Jessica Mauzey at 816.284.9474.