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1000 SW Jackson
Suite 230 Coordinator: Executive Committee: Dennis Cooley, MD John Drees John Halbran Jim Keating Elena Nuss Cindy Samuelson |
16th Annual Kansas Kids Fitness & Safety Day Held May 5"Safe Pools for Safe Kids"Almost 700 third grade students were on hand Friday, May 5, running, jumping, and otherwise moving across the grounds of Cedar Crest in Topeka. The 2006 Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, Safe Kids Kansas, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, included events to promote physical activity and prevent injury. Activities marked the celebration of National Safe Kids Week 2006 - "Safe Pools for Safe Kids". Events took place not only at Cedar Crest, but also at historic Ft. Larned, and at 45 other sites across Kansas. Over 17,000 third graders, their teachers, and parents participated. Activities at Cedar Crest opened with remarks from Governor Kathleen Sebelius. Athletes from Washburn University's men's and women's basketball teams led the group in stretching and warm-ups. "Safe Kids Kansas is pleased to be able to participate in this statewide event which reinforces to children the fun and health benefits of noncompetitive physical activities and injury prevention. Through public awareness activities such as these, Safe Kids seeks to educate children and parents and about preventing accidental injuries," said Jan Stegelman, Coordinator of Safe Kids Kansas. In addition to general physical activities, participants at Cedar Crest and other local sites tested their safety skills in interactive relays that included Stop, Drop & Roll, Dial 9-1-1 and BEEP BEEP (smoke detector test) as well as Swim Safe (life jackets) and Throw and Go (drowning safety). Children at Cedar Crest also met Coastie, a robot in the form of a Coast Guard tugboat, who presented a water safety message. Statewide, all children participating in Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day received health and safety enrichment packets and jump ropes to encourage physical activity. Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day is an opportunity to impress upon youth the importance of being safe and physically active. A recent study published in the April 5 issue of JAMA reported the prevalence of overweight children and adolescents in the United States has risen to 17.1% in 2003-2004. The prevalence of overweight in female children and adolescents increased from 13.8% in 1999 - 200 to 16% in 2003 - 2004. The prevalence of overweight in male children and adolescents rose from 14% to 18.2% in the same time period. The 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted in Kansas High Schools reported that 13.3% of students surveyed were at risk for becoming overweight and 11.9% of students were overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that children and adolescents participate in 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. The benefits associated with regular physical activity include: weight control, increased muscular strength, improved bone mass, improved cardiovascular fitness, decreased blood pressure, improved self-esteem, reduced anxiety and stress. In 2005, only 41.3% of Kansas High School students reported being physically active for a total of 60 minutes per day on five or more days of the past seven days. Complete results from the 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results can be found at www.kshealthykids.org.New research released this week by Safe Kids Worldwide finds that only a third (34 percent) of parents recognize that drowning is one of the top two causes of accidental death among children, and that 66 percent are not at all or only somewhat familiar with the threat of drain entrapment and entanglement. Pool and spa ownership is becoming more popular - one out of two parents (49 percent) report that they have a pool or spa at home. Although devices are available to prevent drowning, entrapment and entanglement, (such as drain covers, isolation fencing, self-closing, self-latching gates) pool and spa owning parents are not likely to have them installed. For more information o how parents can make pools and spas safer for their children, visit www.usa.safekids.org. Safe Kids Kansas, Inc. is a nonprofit Coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing accidental injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ellis, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Leavenworth, Marion, Meade, Mitchell, Montgomery, Nemaha, Osage, Pottawatomie, Republic, Rice, Riley, Saline, Smith, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Wilson and Woodson Counties, as well as the cities of Chanute, Emporia, Leavenworth, Norton, Pittsburg, the Wichita Area and the Metro Kansas City Area. Safe Kids Kansas a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. Note to reporters: A list of Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety day host sites is attached. The full 2005 Youth Risk Behavior Survey results can be found at www.kshealthykids.org. For a copy of the abstract reported in the April 5 issue of JAMA visit http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/295/13/1549 For a copy of the Safe Kids Worldwide research report visit www.usa.safekids.org.
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