KIDSAFE WEEK in Taranaki. June 8th – 15th

June 5, 2009

Kidsafe Week is being held in Taranaki to raise awareness about unintentional injuries to children. Despite what you may read in the papers, more New Zealand children are hospitalised or die from unintentional injury than from any other cause. What’s more, these injuries are more likely to happen at home than anywhere else, says Taranaki DHB Health Promoter Eloise Pollard.

In Taranaki, on average, one child is hospitalised for a serious injury every single day.

Water safety and fire safety (burns/scalds prevention) are the two Kidsafe Week themes for 2009.

Kidsafe Week is a way of showing how injuries can be prevented by a few simple measures, says Kidsafe Week Coalition Coordinator, Ms Pollard. “Supervision really is key to preventing children from getting injured. Children can drown without a sound, so there may be no way of knowing that your child is in danger. For fire safety, remember the “metre from the heater” rule, and always keep hot drinks well away from young children.”Ms. Pollard is thrilled by the number of great activities
happening during Kidsafe Week. “We wanted to create opportunities for children and their parents or caregivers to learn more about how to keep safe in a fun and easy way”.

Free Water and Fire Safety storytelling sessions will be held on Saturday 13th June, at 10am at Library Plus Hawera and at 2pm at New Plymouth’s Puke Ariki. Stories will be read in both English and Te Reo Māori by the New Zealand Fire Service and water safety advocate Rob Hewitt . Children will also have the chance to meet NZ Fire safety heroes Amber and Flint as well as check out the fire engine, following the sessions.

Water and fire safety competition forms (click here to go to the competitions page), featuring fun colouring in, word puzzles and drawing activities, are available through schools and education centres to children 12 years of age and under. All entries receive a free swim pass and six lucky children will receive a grand prize of a term of swimming lessons or a Fire Engine visit to their home or education centre. Information will be in North Taranaki Midweek.

This year, Kidsafe Week activities have been organised by a dedicated coalition of local community organisations. These include New Plymouth District Council, Hawera’s Powerco Aquatic Centre, ACC, Peak Health Taranaki, Te Atiawa Medical Centre, Piki Te Ora Nursing Services, New Plymouth Fire Service, Taranaki Kindergarten Association, New Plymouth injury Safe and Taranaki District Health Board.

For more information please contact
Eloise Pollard
Taranaki DHB Health Promotion Unit
(06) 753 7777

Last updated: Monday, June 8, 2009