On Saturday, April 23, 2022, Franciscan Health and NIPSCO sponsored another Safe Kids Day at the Dean and Barbara White Southlake YMCA located in Crown Point and open to the public. This event is a time to celebrate kids, prevent injuries, and save lives.
Sadly, this annual event has not been held the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned this year with its educational opportunities and pleasurable entertainment. Safe Kids Day returned for 2022 and did not disappoint. Kids filled the facility of the YMCA and lit up with delight as there was face painting, temporary tattoos, glitter tattoos, balloon twisting, music, and so much more for them to enjoy.
“I’m doing songs today for the kids to incorporate the theme of being safe. The songs incorporate the summer season approaching and ensuring kids are safe in the pool, crossing the street, and just having a good time and getting the kids to move,” Leonardo said.
While the entertainment was there for the children in attendance, there were also safety demonstrations such as bicycle and helmet safety, child passenger safety, cyber safety, fire safety, first-aid, home safety, medication safety, pedestrian safety, pet safety, and water safety. Representatives of Franciscan Physician Network Pediatric Medicine were present, not only to perform these demonstrations but to answer any and all healthcare-related questions as well.
The vendors have been participating year after year and there’s a reason.
“My life revolves around safety! This event is helping educate other people and I wish that they had this every month. We’re protecting our most valuable resource which is our children,” Miss B said.
This day was all about the kids and it was nothing short of spectacular. Kids laughed, smiled, and soaked up the day while parents learned important safety tips and laughed along with their children.
“I’ve been doing this event for 30 years and this is the best it’s ever been,” Miss B said.
Franciscan Health is excited that this year had such a great turn out and hopeful that next year will be even bigger and better.
“This event is extremely important because there are so many different ways to keep our kids safe in a fun environment, for both parents and kids where they can learn about fire safety, stranger danger, health issues, and so much more. This is a great opportunity to bring a lot of people together while our main focus is keeping kids safe,” Franciscan Health’s Communications and Media Relations Specialist, Robert Blaszkiewicz said.To learn more about Franciscan Health and upcoming events open to the community, please visit https://www.franciscanhealth.org/
