News

January 2011 

Safe Kids Cobb County Coordinators named Safe Kids Georgia Coordinator of the Year!
Amanda Walpole (Cobb and Douglas Public Health), along with her Coalition Co- coordinator Lisa Gardner (WellStar Corporate and Community Health), was the proud winner of the 2011 Safe Kids Georgia Coordinator of the Year Award. Amanda and Lisa have a unique working relationship that makes the Safe Kids Cobb Coalition the leading organization in the state helping young families keep their children safe while riding on our roadways. They received their awards at the Safe Kids Georgia 4th Annual Awards Breakfast on Feb 1, 2011 held in Atlanta.

December 2010 

Safe Kids Cobb County awards Regal Lager, Inc. – Corporate Partner of the Year and Dianna Vaughn – Volunteer of the Year: 

During the annual Coalition Appreciation Luncheon, Safe Kids Cobb County Coordinators (Amanda Walpole & Lisa Gardner) name Regal Lager, Inc. their Corporate Partner of the Year.  Since partnering with Safe Kids Cobb County in April, 2010, Regal Lager has strived to make child passenger safety a priority among it’s employees and customers.  Therefore, they vowed to provide an employee to assist with the Child Safety Seat Inspection Station once per week for the remainder of the 2010 calendar year. 

Dianna Vaughn (Mom, Resident and Safe Kids Cobb County Volunteer) volunteer of the year.  Dianna has been assisting Safe Kids Cobb County on a weekly basis at its inspection station for the majority of the 2009 and 2010 calendar year.  Dianna contacted Safe Kids Cobb County to offer her volunteer services as a CPST after moving to Paulding County in 2008.  Dianna’s name was engraved on a perpetual plaque that is displayed in the Safe Kids section of the Cobb County Safety Village.

November 2011 

Still Stampede

Although temperatures were close to freezing, students, parents and teachers came to school on  Saturday, November 6th to participate in half mile and full mile races. Safety was promoted by separating the kids into age groups to avoid small children falling down and getting hurt. Safe Kids Cobb County (a Partner in Education with Still Elementary) gave out reflectors and information on safety initiatives to parents and children.

October 2010

International Walk to School Day at Still Elementary & Hollydale Elementary

International Walk to School Day is an initiative to create safe routes to school and improve walkability. Safe Kids Cobb County received a grant to partner with a school to walk monthly. This particular Wednesday is an international event where kids are encouraged to walk to school. At Still Elementary, there were over 120 kids that walked to school for IWTSD. Many were repeat walkers from September but there were also a handful of new walkers. The weather was great and the walk was very successful.

 Golf Tournament Fundraiser

The Public Safety sponsored Golf Tournament at Brookstone Country Club raised over $25,000 for Safe Kids Cobb County! Over 140 golfers participated in the tournament to help raise money to purchase car seats and other important items for Safe Kids Cobb County. Many volunteers helped out with the event from watching for hole-in-ones at certain holes, to handing out snacks to golfers or manning the silent auction items.
 
 

Fall Festival of Fun at Safety Village

 Every year Halloween is one of the most dangerous days of the year for child pedestrians. Children under 15 are more than twice as likely to be killed while walking on Halloween as on any other night of the year.   This year, Safe Kids Cobb County partnered with the Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department, 4-H, Cobb County Public Safety and the Junior League of Cobb County to host it’s annual Fall Festival of Fun at the Cobb County Safety Village.  The goal of the event is to reduce pedestrian-related injuries to children.  With over 3000 community members attending, this year’s event was a huge success.

September 2010 

First Walk to School Wednesday at Still Elementary

There are few children who walk to school on a daily basis. However, on the morning of September 1st, over 150 students at Still Elementary in West Cobb walked to school for an event sponsored by Safe Kids Cobb County. They trickled into the parking lot of Mountain View Church on Casteel Rd just few cars at a time but by 7:25am, the registration line seemed endless! It was such a great sight to see so many children excited to be active and walking to school instead of riding in a car or bus. Before the children left in their fluorescent green shirts complete with a Still Elementary Eagle and the Safe Kids logo, they had a mini-lesson on pedestrian safety. Looking both ways before crossing the street and paying careful attention to common street signs were the main topics of discussion among the K-5 crowd (plus some parents). The event coordinators along with the staff at Still had no idea what the event had in store: “We didn’t know how many kids would show up. We were expecting the numbers to be around 10 or 25 kids but the response was overwhelming- in a good way of course!”
 

Bike Rodeo at LaBelle Elementary

Labelle Elementary School
’s bike rodeo went very well. There were a number of teachers and faculty who volunteered to help us out. The kids patiently waited at each station for their turn to get their bikes inspected, helmets inspected, to learn street signs and hand signals and finally, a series of interactive tests designed to test the child’s braking, weaving and visual cues. Once their passports were complete, they were permitted to ride in the free-ride area. One of the most important lessons the students learned was the importance of wearing a helmet when they ride. Over 70 helmets were distributed because many children did not have them prior to the event. There were a handful of students who did have helmets but about half of them were not the proper size for the child. Overall, close to 100 students participated in the event and each one who completed the rodeo received a goody bag with a couple educational materials and some fun activities!

 CPS Week Celebration with Seat Check at Babies R Us

On September 25th Safe Kids USA and local coalitions across the country (including Safe Kids Cobb County) participated in National Child Passenger Safety Week Seat Check Saturday.  Safe Kids Cobb County along with volunteers hosted a Child Safety Seat Check at Babies R Us on Greers Chapel Road in Kennesaw.  Through the success of this event, we were able to educate 32 families on their child safety seat and checked 37 seats.  Please visit the events page for a listing of all scheduled seat check dates.

 August 2010 

Pedestrian Safety Lecture at HeadStart

On August 19, 2010, Amanda Walpole and Lisa Gardner (Safe Kids Cobb Co-Coordinators) spoke to 220 Pre-K students at the Cobb County Head Start on Allgood Road about pedestrian safety.  They started the lecture out with a catchy song about crossing the street while acting out the parts.  They then went on to teach the students the 5-steps to crossing the street safely:

Stop at the edge of the curb.
Look left, right, left and Listen.
Make eye contact and give a wave to drivers before crossing to be sure you are seen.
Walk – don’t run – across the street.
Continue to look and listen for cars while crossing.

The students had a great time learning a valuable lesson on pedestrian safety.

Seatbelt Relay at Pigs N Peaches 

On August 20th & 21st, 2010, Safe Kids Cobb County hosted an information booth at the annual Pigs N Peaches Festival.  The information booth was focused on booster seat information and education.  While adults received the safety messages for how their child should ride safely in the vehicle, the children participated in a round of “Seatbelt Relay”.  The “Seatbelt Relay” game allowed the children to race a partner to see who could buckle up the fastest.  Through this activity, parents and children were shown the correct placement for the seatbelt when riding in a booster seat and what milestones are necessary to reach before the child can graduate to the seatbelt alone.

Bike Rodeo at Addison Elementary

The bike rodeo held at Addison Elementary was a huge success. Kids and their parents were lined up all morning to get their bikes inspected, helmets inspected and to learn about pedestrian/bicycle road signs and hand signals. Once the child completed all the stations and the obstacle course, they were permitted to do a free ride around a loop. Just about every child that arrived had a helmet, but some did not properly fit; in which case, the child was given a helmet that would adequately protect them while they rode. Many of the kids already knew some of the hand signals involved with riding a bike such as turning right, left and stopping. A handful of them knew the signals, but just got them mixed up a bit. By the end of the afternoon, each child could demonstrate the signals and had a smile on their face!

July 2010

Safe Kids Cobb held a Bike Rodeo at Imagine International Academy of Mableton:

On July 9, 2010 Safe Kids representatives spoke to 70 students at Imagine International Academy of Mableton about the importance of bike safety.  Students in kindergarten through eighth grade participated in the bike rodeo.  The lecture cover safe places to ride, what to wear, hand signals, traffic signs, and rules of the road.  Helmets were distributed and students were taught the proper way to wear a helmet.  The students proceeded outside where Safe Kids performed safety check on the student’s bikes.  The safety check included:

1.     Seat is secure and at the right height.
2.     Tires are properly inflated.
3.     Brake check.

Once the students were checked off they were ready to roll!  They spent the afternoon riding their bikes safely.  Students received educational material and reflectors.  Students had a great time learning a valuable lesson on bike safety.

 June 2010

Safe Kids shares some bike safety tips on Cobb Fire’s 3rd Alarm:
June 2, 2010, Amanda Walpole (Safe Kids Cobb County Co-Coordinator) talks with her friend Bubba about bike safety.  Bubba received a new bike for his birthday and wants to know how to ride it safely.  Watch the video to learn more:

Safe Kids Cobb Conducted a 4 Day Child Passenger Safety Technician Training

June 4, 2010 started the beginning of a four day child passenger safety technician class.  There were 14 participants including Cobb Fire Fighters, Cobb Police Officers, and other community members.  The National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training Program certifies individuals as child passenger safety technicians.  Once certified, technicians put their knowledge and skills to work at car seat check events.

 

 Car Seat Check Saturday:

On June 12, 2010 Safe Kids partnered with DFCS to conduct a car seat check at Cobb Civic Center.  During this 3 hour event Safe Kids helped 16 families and checked 20 seats. 

Safe Kids Cobb speaks at South Cobb Regional Library on Water Safety:

On June 24, 2010 Lisa Gardner (Safe Kids Co-Coordinator) spoke to 5 adults and 10 children on the importance of water safety.  The participants demonstrated active learning when practicing the “reach or throw…don’t go” rule.  More details on the water safety lecture listed below.         

 Child Passenger Safety Technician CEU Workshop:

Amanda Walpole (Safe Kids Co-Coordinator) conducted a continuing education workshop for CPST’s.  Eleven technicians participated in the education course.  The workshop focused on the LATCH system and new seats on the market.

Safe Kids stocked Life Jacket Loaner Stations:

As a continued effort to keep kids safe while swimming Safe Kids stocked the life jacket loaner stations at both Cauble Park and Dallas Landing on June 8th and June 23rd.  Safe Kids will maintain an active supply of life jackets through the summer.      

May 2010

Safe Kids Cobb held a Bike Rodeo at Still Elementary School:

On May 1st Safe Kids spoke to 160 parents and 80 students about bike safety.  The bike rodeo consisted of safety stations where the Safe Kids representatives covered safe places to ride bikes, hand signals, traffic signs, rules of the road, and what to wear when riding.  The stations were set up to engage the students while discussing proper helmet use, seat height, tire pressure, brakes, and reflectors.  Students also participated in a bike safety poster/essay contest where there were four winners: Mollie Robertson (2nd Grade), Daniella Primiano (2nd Grade), Jordan Wilfong (4th Grade) and Caroline Caden (4th Grade).  Each winner received a new bike courtesy of a Safe Routes to School Grant issued to Safe Kids Cobb County in the fall.  The students enjoyed learning about bike safety and had much fun.

Car Seat Check Saturday:

On May 22, 2010 Safe Kids partnered with State Farm to conduct a car seat check at Next Care Urgent Care located in Mableton, GA. During the three hour event certified child safety technicians helped 18 families and checked 19 seats.     

Safe Kids continued their efforts to promote safety in the month of May:  Safe Kids spoke to students at The Goddard School on pedestrian safety.  Safe Kids representatives visited The Mom’s Club of Smyrna, Westside Elementary School, Kincaid Elementary school, and The Goddard School to speak to students about the importance of water safety. Details of the water safety lecture listed below.

 

 

 

Press Releases

March 15, 2010 - Safe Kids Cobb County Joins National Health and Safety Partners to Eliminate “Forgotten Child” Deaths - more.

September 30, 2008 - Safe Kids Cobb County and FedEx Team Up to Educate Children about Pedestrian Safety - more.

September 9, 2008 - Child
Passenger Safety Advocates in
Cobb County Urge Parents and Caregivers to Check Their Child’s Car Seat - more.

April 28, 2008 - Accidental injury
death rate of children 14 and under down by 45 percent since
1987, says Safe Kids USA 20th anniversary report. - more.

April 28, 2008 - Safe Kids Cobb
County brings lifesaving training to local Cub Scouts. - more.



Safe Kids Cobb speaks to Head Start
Pre-K students about pedestrian Safety.



Life jacket loaner station at Cauble Park.



Life jacket loaner station at Dallas
Landing Park.