WHEREAS, The purpose for National SAFE KIDS Week 1997, represented locally by the Rhode Island SAFEKIDS Coalition and cosponsored by the Rhode Island Medical Society and Lifespan, is to help parents and caregivers fight the leading killer of children ages 14 and under -- preventable injury. The National SAFE KIDS Campaign will unveil a new initiative, SAFE KIDS Gear Up, during National SAFE KIDS Week, a key component of which is an obstacle course centered around childhood injury risk areas; and WHEREAS, The national Games, to be held at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., will launch SAFE KIDS Week. Campaign Chairman and former Surgeon General of the United States, C. Everett Koop, M.D., national leaders and other invited celebrities will participate in the national Games. The Campaign's more than 200 state and local SAFE KIDS Coalitions will hold SAFE KIDS Gear Up Games in communities nationwide; and

WHEREAS, In Rhode Island, the SAFEKIDS Coalition's efforts will come to a climax on Saturday, May 17, on the State House lawn, where parents and young children will take part in activities promoting Bicycle Safety, Fire Safety, Sports Safety, Water Safety, First Aid, Child Passenger Safety, Finger Casts, Home Safety and so much more; and

WHEREAS, Designed to be fun, local Gear Up Games will allow parents, caregivers and children to learn about injury prevention and the proper use of safety gear through hands-on participation at a number of stations. The lessons learned at these games will, hopefully, prevent serious injuries and deaths amongst our most precious resource, our young children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby applauds the dedicated and imaginative efforts of the Rhode Island SAFEKIDS Coalition in promoting greater awareness of the dangers that threaten our youngest children, and this House, moreover, is pleased and proud to proclaim May 10-18, 1997 as NATIONAL SAFE KIDS WEEK; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Nancy Libby Fischer at the Rhode Island Department of Health.