SAFE KIDS Washoe County TEAMS UP WITH WASHOE HEALTH SYSTEM TO PROMOTE SKI HELMET SAFETY

Low Cost Ski Helmets Available For Families

February 26, 2002 – SAFE KIDS Washoe County has partnered with Washoe Trauma Services and Washoe Health Resource Center to launch a ski helmet safety outreach program for youths ages 9 –18. The partnership supports safety on the slopes and will help prevent skiing and snowboarding deaths. Recently, the extreme ski helmets, provided by Bell Sports, were distributed for free to qualified low-income youths involved with the Junior Ski Program at Sky Tavern and have been available for all other youths with the program at a low cost. The helmets normally range in cost from $80 - $120, but will be available for purchase to families at a deeply discounted price of $45 each. Helmets can be picked-up at Washoe Health Resource Center on the first floor of Washoe Professional Center, located at 75 Pringle Way, adjacent to Washoe Medical Center.

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 were 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 related head injuries.”

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 775.858-5700 or Judy Davis, Public Relations Coordinator of Washoe Health System at 775.982-5000.

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 internationally 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