"WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND SAFETY" AT SAFE KIDS WEEK FUN FESTIVAL

Augusta, Ga. -- Enjoy fun and games while learning valuable lessons about safety as the East Central Georgia SAFE KIDS Coalition presents the SAFE KIDS Week Fun Festival on May 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Doctors Field (635 Ronald Reagan Blvd., Evans). The event is free and open to the public.

"Wrap Your Arms Around Safety" is the theme of this year's festival, which will include a number of fun events focused on teaching children and parents how to prevent injuries at home, on the playground, in the water and more.

Events will include a water safety ring toss, the Fire Safe House, poison prevention match game, "horse" racing for the safety savvy, an equipment identification race and Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Safety, plus a story time for pre-schoolers.

"Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death for children ages 14 and younger," said Rene Hopkins, SAFE KIDS Coordinator. "This festival offers an opportunity for children and their parents to enjoy some fun and games, as well as learn some valuable tips on how to stay safe at home and in the community."

The East Central Georgia SAFE KIDS Coalition is sponsored by the Medical College of Georgia Children's Medical Center. National SAFE KIDS Week is May 3-10.

MCG Health System is composed of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Hospitals and Clinics, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit MCGHealth.org.

Note to editors: The National SAFE KIDS Campaign and Johnson & Johnson have released A Report to the Nation: Trends in Unintentional Childhood Injury Mortality, 1987-2000, which includes new and significant trends in a variety of injury categories. For a copy of the report, contact the National SAFE KIDS Campaign at (202) 662-0600 or visit www.safekids.org.