Seatbelt use, injury prevention event held
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POLSON — On June 21, the Lake County Health Department held an Injury Prevention Fair that stressed safety for parents and young children, many of whom are part of the department’s Parents as Teachers program, WIC or Home Visiting program.
Diane Ward, the Parents as Teachers coordinator, brought together various community partners to address such issues as gun safety, water safety, child passenger safety and the importance of seat belts, among many others. Face painting, sidewalk chalk art, and fishing from a kiddie pool were among the activities that kept children occupied and smiling.
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Randy Owens brought the “seatbelt convincer,” which is basically two car seats on an inclined ramp that descends, giving its passengers a jolt at the end. Of course the seat belts keep you from being thrown forward, thus stressing the importance of wearing your seat belt. Parents on the sidelines could see how even a slow speed and very short distance results in quite a bit of force: weight times speed equals force. So, a 40-pound child traveling 30 miles per hour results in 1,200 pounds of force. Short distances and slow speeds are no excuse for not buckling up, and it is Montana’s law too. Every one, every time.
Other events at the safety fair included a bicycle safety course and the importance of helmets, lead screening, safety gates to prevent falling down stairs, and sunscreen to block ultraviolet rays.
Hopefully, participants came away with more knowledge and tools to keep their children safe.
