ISSUES AND
ITEMS DISCUSSED AT THE SUMMER SAFETY ALERT PRESS CONFERENCE PRESENTED
BY
WORLD AGAINST TOYS CAUSING HARM, INC. (W.A.T.C.H.) AT THE FRANCISCAN
HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (F.H.F.C.)
World Against Toys Causing Harm, Inc. (W.A.T.C.H.)
alerted
parents and caregivers about the risks of summertime activities
and some safety precautions they should take to have "Safe
Fun In The Sun".
With summer weather comes the chance to enjoy the outdoors.
Summer itself is a time of outdoor fun and activity but also
of peril. This time of year accounts for nearly half of injury-related
deaths to children, many due to drowning and to bike accidents.
These incidences can drop significantly with education.
W.A.T.C.H. and the F.H.F.C. have united in their mission to
help save the lives of children. Edward M. Swartz (1934-2010), founder of World Against Toys Causing Harm,
Inc. (W.A.T.C.H), James A. Swartz, director
of W.A.T.C.H, and Joan E. Siff, director
of W.A.T.C.H., spoke about various items as illustrative examples
of some hazards in recreational products being sold to consumers.
They also spoke about many other summer safety issues and
problems concerning recreational products.
Participating in the safety conference was a representative of Franciscan's Hospital for Children who emphasized that creating public awareness as to recreational safety concerns could lead to fewer medical incidences, including paralysis, brain injury, drowning, and other injuries or deaths associated with recreational play.
W.A.T.C.H. issued an "informational brochure", available to the public, which includes many tips
on summer safety.
Available for the press to examine were some products that
were used to generically demonstrate and illustrate safety
concerns at the "Safe Fun In The Sun" conference.
The theme of the conference was "even one injury to one
child is one too many if the injury can be avoided".
