THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409070138
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07L EDITION: LYNNHAVEN
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The phrase, ``Accidents don't just happen - they're caused by carelessness,'' is an all too familiar one for Dot Kelley.
Kelley, coordinator of trauma services at Virginia Beach General Hospital, has seen her share of accidents during 15 years of working with trauma patients.
Although it is the leading killer of people ages 1 to 45, ``most trauma is preventable,'' Kelley said.
To help reduce the number of these preventable accidents, the hospital hosted its first ``Don't Visit Us By Accident,'' a community safety day packed with demonstrations, lectures and information booths.
Representatives from the police and fire departments, as well as the volunteer rescue squads, Tidewater Bicycle Association and the American Red Cross, addressed the precautions associated with fire, bicycle, boating, car and water safety.
``Part of our mission to the community is to make them aware of how they can prevent accidents,'' Kelley said. ``We can do that through community education and by showing people simple ways to avoid unnecessary risks. Most of it is common sense.''
According to Kelley, some of these ``simple ways'' include utilizing seatbelts, helmets and using cars equipped with air bags. Obeying traffic rules, avoiding drinking and driving and watching the weather forecast before hitting the water are other means of avoiding risks.
Families toured a parking lot full of emergency and rescue vehicles, hung out with Buckle Bear and Wags the Fire Dog Robot and talked to experts. Individual lectures and demonstrations brought the dangers closer to home.
``The more they see, the more exposure they get,'' said paramedic Wallace Ching. Ching and other emergency medical service personnel demonstrated the ``jaws of life'' during a mock car accident rescue.
``I think a lot of the kids are in the `oohing and ahhing' stage,'' he said. ``This is a good thing for them to see.''
The Fire Department showed spectators why mixing spray lubricant such as WD-40 and fire is not safe, as well as how smoky things get when oven cleaner sits on aluminum foil.
``We're demonstrating how hazards can be involved with household cleaners,'' said Mike Claggett, captain of Company 3.
The Fire Department also inspected child safety seats, a new program it became involved with this year.
Rez Collier brought his 10-year-old daughter Megan out to ``explain how important it is to be safe,'' he said.
Although she hates wearing her helmet when she's on her bike, Megan knows what's best for her. ``There are a lot of holes in the road,'' she said. ``I don't want to get hurt.''
Kelley said, ``We hope we can increase their awareness. The earlier we get to kids, the earlier we can help them prevent these accidents.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HOLLY WESTER
Paramedic Wallace Ching gives Megan Collier, 10, a tour of the
inside of an ambulance.
by CNB