Led by the Regional Medical Center and RMC Foundation, Safe Kids of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun Counties has scheduled its 16th annual Safe Kids Super Saturday for Saturday, April 2. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds.

Locally-affiliated with the Safe Kids USA Program, Safe Kids of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun Counties is a national award winning program. Safe Kids' mission is to decrease unintentional injury to children in the tri-county area. Outreach includes all safety issues related to children with emphasis on child safety seats and bicycle, gun, poison and water education.

Safe Kids Super Saturday has proven to be a very successful vehicle to disseminate information about accident prevention and health promotion and offers the opportunity for residents in the tri-county area to be made aware of the many resources available to them. All of these educational outreach efforts are highlighted through the fun approach and activities at Super Saturday each year. This annual free, fun, informative and interactive “kid-friendly” event is geared toward promoting safety and good health among children.

Unintentional injury is the number one killer of children from one through 14 years of age. According to Safe Kids Worldwide out of Washington, DC, poverty is the major contributor to this staggering and heartbreaking statistic. Additionally, living in a rural setting increases the risk of injury to children. “Since our area is rural coupled with the fact that a large number of our citizens live below the poverty level, Safe Kids Super Saturday is brought to the community as a free event,” noted Patricia Funderburk, O-B-C Safe Kids director. “We want to be sure that anyone who wants to learn about safety in a fun way has the opportunity to join us at Super Saturday.”

Designed to promote safety and a healthy lifestyle to children and their parents, Safe Kids Super Saturday will again feature a drive-through child safety seat check, bike rodeo, free health screenings and a variety of safety demonstrations, along with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety’s “Smoke House.” Bike helmets will be distributed to the first 250 youngsters prior to participating in the bike rodeo that teaches safety while on two wheels.

“Offering fun activities along with safety education is key to the appeal of this special outreach,” Funderburk said. “Animals from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, face painting, pony rides, bounce castle, a large inflatable slide and hill sliding are sure to be very popular with the children. We are welcoming a number of new organizations to our event this year in an increased effort to promote healthy lifestyles. Additionally, we are pleased to announce that CPM Federal Credit Union is sponsoring this year’s drive-through child safety seat check, and we so appreciate their commitment to keeping our community’s children safe,” commented Funderburk.

Due to the staggering and heartbreaking fact that S.C. highways are among the deadliest in the nation and about half of those vehicular accidents are alcohol-related, Safe Kids Super Saturday will provide additional attention to DUI issues. Additionally, clarification of S.C. Child Occupant Restraint and Primary Seat Belt Law will be stressed. “Every effort will be made to encourage safe practices about this high risk of injury and death to the population," she noted. “A focus on ‘tweens and teens’ buckling up will emphasize the need for this particular age group to take ‘the promise’ that they will use their seatbelts all the time.”

According to Funderburk the success of Safe Kids Super Saturday, a tri-county community effort, is totally due to the staff and volunteers of the many agencies who give of their time so generously during the event. “The Super Saturday event unites community organizations including emergency responders, law enforcement, and health and safety professionals as well as interested citizens who work together to reduce injury and death in children. The success of this annual event is strengthened by the combined efforts of many public service organizations and other groups that cooperate and contribute in numerous ways,” commented Funderburk.

All activities are free. A hotdog lunch will be available for $1 (includes hot dog, bag of chips and a beverage). Additionally, cotton candy, popcorn and bottled/canned beverages will be available for a small fee.

Children need to be accompanied by adults. For more information about Safe Kids Super Saturday, contact
O-B-C Safe Kids Director Patricia Funderburk, R.N., at (803) 395-2822 or (803) 395-2698.