Wednesday, October 11, 2000
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Wednesday, October 11, 2000 |
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Fayette is implementing Risk Watch Nearly 2,800 Georgians, many of them children, died as a result of unintentional injuries in 1997, according to Georgia's Division of Public Health. The Fayette County Safe Kids and the Allstate Foundation are taking the statistics very seriously by implementing Risk Watch, a first of its kind safety program in Georgia. "Parents and caregivers too often think common types of childhood injuries are just a part of growing up," said Rick Ryckeley, Fayette County Risk Watch Coordinator and firefighter for Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services. "But these injuries are preventable, and it's our mission to provide parents and children resources to help reduce these unintentional injuries." Risk Watch, a pilot program of the National fire Protection Association, targets the eight leading causes of injury for children: motor vehicle crashes, fires and burns, choking, suffocation and strangulation, poisoning, falls, unintentional firearm accidents, bike and pedestrian hazards and water hazards. Through a grant provided by The Allstate Foundation, Fayette County Safe Kids will participate in the pilot program this fall. Spring Hill Elementary School has been chosen as the first site. The program will roll out this winter, after the teachers have been trained. Over the next four years, Fayette County Safe Kids plans to implement the Risk Watch curriculum in every Fayette County middle and elementary school. "Fayette County Safe Kids has set a precedent by being the first safety and prevention organization to implement Risk Watch in Georgia," said Janine Parris, Allstate Foundation chairperson. "Their committed coalition of safety experts has worked hard to bring this program to Fayette County. We're proud to support Fayette County Safe Kids and the Risk Watch program."
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