Lakeland Regional Works with Elementary Schools to Prevent Injuries
Wednesday, April 27 2011
- Teghan Sheets, Michelle Gomez, Hannia Guerrero, Savannah Singleton and Janine Curlutu, RN, Trauma Program Manager
Recently, Lakeland Regional Medical Center hosted a reception and announced three Polk County elementary students as winners of the WalkSafe™ poster contest.
Michelle Gomez, a first-grader from Wahneta Elementary; Hannia Guerrero, a third-grader from Auburndale Central Elementary; and Savannah Singleton, a fourth-grader from Garner Elementary were named the winners of the contest and each received their framed poster and a pair of tennis shoes.
“WalkSafe™ was designed by the University of Miami to help decrease the alarming number of school children struck by vehicles while walking to school in the Miami area,” said Teghan Sheets, RN, Trauma Injury Prevention and Outreach Coordinator, LRMC. “Since the program was implemented in Miami in 2002, they have seen a 42 percent decrease in students hit by cars.”
The WalkSafe™ program educates and prepares the physical education coaches at the elementary level to teach their students how to safely walk to school. The program culminates with a poster project that is completed in art classes. An actual walk that is organized by the schools and involves students, PE coaches, chaperones and local law enforcement officers is also conducted.
In past years, Lakeland Regional has participated in final walks and through hosting teacher training. However, due to limited funding, this year, the WalkSafe™ program was unable to provide a coordinator for each county. As the local trauma center, LRMC stepped in and took on the role of coordinating the 2011 events.
Sheets provided the training to the PE coaches and also participated in the Crystal Lake Elementary (Lakeland) walk to school. She coordinated with volunteers from other community agencies who served as support to the children and coaches during the walks.
“It is our goal to prevent the injury,” said Sheets. “Prevention is so much better and easier for our community and for our kids.”
If you would like more information about the program, please call 687-1100 ext. 2241.