SAFE KIDS Washoe County TO PRESENT JUNIOR SKI PROGRAM WITH SKI HELMET SAFETY TO KICK-OFF NATIONAL SKI AREA SAFETY WEEK

January 17, 2003 – SAFE KIDS Washoe County Coalition will be providing free ski helmet fittings and a safety presentation to all youths ages 9 –18 years, who are participating in the Junior Ski Program this weekend at Sky Tavern Ski Resort. The free “extreme ski helmet fitting” will kick-off National Ski Area Safety Week and take place at Sky Tavern Ski Resort located off Mt. Rose Hwy on both Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is a move to support safety on the slopes and to help prevent unintentional skiing and snowboarding deaths.

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.

“ SAFE KIDS and partners are working to proactively prevent unintentional head injuries from happening,” said Eric Guevin, Director of SAFE KIDS Washoe County and Director of Education for REMSA. “Our educational effort seeks to help reduce or prevent skiing and snowboarding related head injuries this year with all age groups not just with youths.”

SAFE KIDS Washoe County has partnered with Washoe Resource Center and Washoe Trauma Services at Washoe Medical Center, the Junior Ski Program and Sky Tavern Ski Resort to promote safety on the slopes with all youths involved in the ski program. The extreme ski helmets are provided by GIRO, a subsidiary of Bell Sports. The helmets normally range in cost from $80 - $120, but will be available for purchase to the community at Washoe Resource Centerfor a deeply discounted price of $45 each. For more information call Laura or Jennifer at 982-5041.

SAFE KIDS Washoe County received a $2,000 grant funding donation from the Stout Foundation and retailer REI and REMSA (lead organization for SAFE KIDS Washoe County) matched the funding with an additional donation of $2,000 to offer a scholarship or financial aid to youths that are unable to afford the helmets.

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, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada. REMSA’s state-of-the art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA provides quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

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