JACKSON—Sammy Safety, a certified safety superhero, will join the Ridgeland Fire Department Saturday for their Safety Checkpoint Day.
Sammy, the injury prevention mascot for Methodist Rehabilitation Center, will show children and parents the importance of wearing bicycle helmets and seatbelts, along with other important safety information provided by the Ridgeland fire and police departments, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and Child Safety Programs.
Activities will include car seat checks and identifying seats that have been recalled, finger printing, tours of the fire station, and a roll over simulator that demonstrates what happens to unrestrained passengers in a roll over collision. The Mississippi Blood Services blood mobile will be on site for anyone wishing to give blood. The first 50 participants will receive a free bicycle helmet.
“It’s going to be a great day for kids and parents because of all the organizations that are participating,” said Lisa Uzzle Gates, coordinator of Think First, Methodist Rehab’s statewide safety and injury prevention program. “There will be a lot of activities for the kids and a lot of important information for parents.”
John Boyer, communications officer for the Ridgeland Fire Department, said he came up with the idea for the event after becoming certified to check for the proper installation of car seats.
Boyer said they often have people come by the department asking for assistance with car seats, but until now they weren’t qualified to help them. “I’ve attended the classes and gotten the education myself so I can educate other folks,” Boyer said.
Safety Checkpoint Day is Saturday, January 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Central Fire Station, located at 456 Towne Center Boulevard in Ridgeland.
Contact Gates at 364-3451 or email lgates@mmrcrehab.org or John Boyer at the Ridgeland Fire Department at 856-3760 for more information.