FREE SKI HELMET GIVEAWAY TO 60 LOW INCOME YOUTHS RESCHEDULED TO THIS WEEKEND

SAFE KIDS Washoe County TO GIVE GIFTS PENDINGFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS

February 1, 2002 – SAFE KIDS Washoe County has rescheduled their free ski helmet giveaway to 60 low income youths ages 9 –18 years, who are participating in the Junior Ski Program to this weekend due to inclement weather conditions last weekend. The free extreme ski helmet fitting will take place at Sky Tavern Ski Resort during National Ski Area Safety Week on both Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3 from Noon – 2 p.m. This is a move to support safety on the slopes and to help prevent unintentional skiing and snowboarding deaths. Note the event may cancel pending inclement weather conditions. Please contact Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program at (775) 323-5125 to confirm.

According to the National SAFE KIDS campaign, over the last three years more than 16,300 children ages 5 to 14 have visited emergency rooms for snow skiing related injuries, many of which are severe head injuries. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff has recommended helmet use by skiers and snowboarders to prevent or reduce the severity of head injuries to children under the age of 15 by 53 percent. The proportion of skiing and snowboarding head injuries is higher in children than in any other age group.

“We’ve already lost one child to a ski injury this year,” said Eric Guevin, Director of SAFE KIDS Washoe County and Director of Education for REMSA. “ Losing any child in this way, is one child too many. This effort seeks to help reduce or prevent skiing and snowboarding reflected head injuries.”

SAFE KIDS Washoe County has partnered with Washoe Trauma Services at Washoe Medical Center, the Junior Ski Program and Sky Tavern to promote safety on the slopes with all youths involved in the ski program. The extreme ski helmets are provided by Bell Sports. The helmets normally range in cost from $80 - $120, but will be available for purchase to other youths associated with the Junior Ski Program at a deeply discounted price of $45 each.

To find out more information about ski helmet safety and how to get involved please call REMSA, at (775) 858-5700. For media inquiries, please contact Eric Guevin, Director of SAFE KIDS Washoe County and Director of Education for REMSA at (775) 691-4714.

REMSA is a private, non-profit organization providing the region with advanced life support paramedic ambulance services, the Care Flight emergency medical helicopter program and accredited emergency medical dispatch services. REMSA and Care Flight provide guaranteed response times and high quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720