Officers from the Dubuque Police Department are on the lookout for children, ages two to 13 years old who exhibit safe behaviors by wearing bike helmets or life jackets.
More than 200 Iowa police and sheriff departments, along with the Department of Natural Resources are participating this summer in Iowa Health System’s community outreach program, I Got Caught!
Program sponsors, Iowa Health System, the state’s largest health system, AAA, and Wendy’s Restaurants, are partnering to reward safe choices in an effort to prevent traumatic brain injuries on watercraft, bicycles, skateboards, roller blades and scooters.
"A common misconception parents have is that unless their child is riding on a busy road, their child does not need a helmet. However, the majority of adolescent bicycle-related fatalities occur on minor roads that are less than one mile away from their home. Without helmet protection, even a small fall can have damaging affects to your child. These injuries and deaths can easily be prevented by wearing a properly-fitted helmet,” said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs, AAA. “When worn properly, helmets decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.”
Children “caught” being safe will receive a sticker, a coupon for a free Frosty at participating Wendy’s restaurants, and a chance to win a new bike.
“Wendy’s is proud to be able to work with law enforcement and the Iowa Health System to promote safe habits,” said Cedar Rapids Franchisee, Jeff Ruppel. “The cost of a helmet is nothing compared to the possible cost of a child’s life.”
In addition to rewarding good behavior, the “I Got Caught!” program educates young Iowans about injury prevention during 45-minute presentations at elementary schools. The free presentation includes a movie, a talk by a VIP (Voice for Injury Prevention) speaker who shares with the children what it’s like to have a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, and a few fun demonstrations to encourage bike safety. Free helmets, helmet fittings, and bike rodeos are also available in conjunction with the “I Got Caught!” program.
Thanks to generous support from program sponsors the I Got Caught! program was presented to 7,300 students in 82 Iowa schools during the 2008-2009 school year. Another 7,700 children received free helmets, 20,000 received mock citations, 12 were presented with new bicycles, and hundreds attended bike rodeos hosted by communities and schools.
Bill Leaver, president and CEO of Iowa Health System, said he would prefer to have the health system help prevent injuries rather than treat them, and the I Got Caught! program is designed to do just that. “At Iowa Health System, we want to be sure to reach out and help children make smart decisions. We think this innovative program will help with that. At least that is our sincere hope.”
Wendy's International, Inc. (NYSE: WEN) is one of the world's largest and most successful restaurant operating and franchising companies. More information about the Company is available at www.wendys-invest.com.
Iowa Health System is the state's first and largest integrated health system, serving nearly one of every three patients in Iowa. Through relationships with 25 hospitals in metropolitan and rural communities and more than 140 physician clinics, Iowa Health System provides care throughout Iowa and western Illinois.
Iowa Health System entities employ the state's largest nonprofit workforce, with nearly 20,000 employees working toward innovative advancements to deliver the best outcome for every patient every time. Each year, through more than 2.5 million patient visits, Iowa Health System hospitals and clinics provide a full range of care to patients and families. With annual revenues of $2 billion, Iowa Health System is the sixth largest nondenominational health system in America and provides community benefit programs and services to improve the health of people in its communities.
AAA, which includes more than 778,000 members, offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 51 million members in the United States and Canada. For more information visit, www.aaa.com.
Contact: Chad Thomas
Iowa Health System
www.ihs.org/igotcaught
(319) 226-2155
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