News: What's New?

Here’s what’s new with Safe Kids Sonoma County:

California's New Booster Seat Law in Effect January 1, 2012

We are proud of our efforts to help strengthen the booster seat law and are excited that effective January 1, 2012 all children under 8 years old or 4"9' must be restrained in the back seat in a child restraint when riding in any motor vehicle.

Safe Kids Sonoma County is proud to have played a big role in getting this bill passed into law.  Safe Kids Sonoma County’s Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Action Team worked closely with Noreen Evans’ office to introduce the bill several years ago.  The CPS Action Team coordinated letters of support for the bill and went to Sacramento multiple times to educate lawmakers on this important issue.  It took many years of persistence.  The bill passed through the California Senate and Assembly every time it was introduced, but was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger twice.  We’re very proud that Governor Brown finally passed this bill into law.  It will save the lives of many children in the future.

For more information on this new law, click here.

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Levi Leipheimer Promotes Bicycle Safety During Amgen Tour- Feb, 2009

Levi Leipheimer, Sonoma County resident and Olympic Cyclist, is in town training for the Amgen Tour. On Sunday, February 15, 2009, Levi will be pedaling into Santa Rosa as part of the Tour of California. But in addition to being a professional cyclist, Levi is also a safety advocate. Check out Levi's Public Service Announcements (PSA) he filmed with Safe Kids Sonoma County to promote helmet use and riding "right" (in the same direction as traffic). He encourages both kids and adults to take the Street Skills for Cyclists class offered by the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to learn how to safely ride with traffic on the street. Sign up by calling 707-545-0153.

Go to the Community Media Center of Santa Rosa to see Levi's 0:30 second PSA and hear the Right! Radio PSA that Levi recorded with us.

PSA Production services donated by the Community Media Center of Santa Rosa.

Walk and Roll to School Day Coming Up on October 8th, 2008

Walking and riding a bike to school is beneficial in so many ways. Wednesday, October 8, 2008, is International Walk and Roll to School Day. Many schools throughout the entire county will participate. Join your school's activities, or if they're not participating, help your child walk or ride a bike to school and join millions of people around the world. Remember to teach your child to look left-right-left before crossing the street at the corner and to make eye contact with the driver. If riding a bike, ride on the right side of the road with traffic, obey all of the street signs, use hand signals for turns, and always wear a helmet.

 

Safe Kids Sonoma County Graduates Eight New Car Seat Technicians

On June 6, 2008, eight new car seat technicians completed the 32-hour National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)- certified training to become car seat technicians. The training from June 2-6, 2008, was put on by Safe Kids Sonoma County and hosted by Rohnert Park Public Safety. These technicians will be available to help parents, caregivers and other community members learn how to properly install car seats. Graduates are located in Windsor, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, and Guerneville in Sonoma County. The updated child passenger safety resource sheet has contact information for these new technicians and all current technicians in the county.

 

Safe Kids Week 2008 "Gear Up for Safety" — April 26 - May 3

Happy Safe Kids Week 2008! The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors has declared April 26- May 3, 2008, as "Safe Kids Week". Governor Schwarzenegger also made a similar proclamation for the State of California. This year is the 20th Anniversary of Safe Kids Worldwide, and the theme is "Gear Up for Safety".

Safe Kids Sonoma County is kicking off Safe Kids Week 2008 on April 26th with a safety fair at Hidden Valley Elementary School in Santa Rosa from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. There will be a bike rodeo and car seat check-up event, displays by the Santa Rosa Police and Fire Departments, fingerprinting, and much more! Registration is needed for the car seat check-up. Please call 585-6108.

Safe Kids Sonoma County will end the week with a the launch of the Vamos A Nadar "Let's Go Swimming" program at Healdsburg Swim Center. Children receive a free swim lesson and parents receive a water safety presentation in Spanish. There are six events at various locations throughout the county.

Healthy By Design Conference

This conference will be held November 2, 2007 in Rohnert Park for city and county elected officials, planners, transportation engineers, public works staff, public health staff, and other community leaders. We’ll explore techniques used to promote community health and safety through design, land use policy, transportation systems and community development.

 

The Walk/Bike California 2007 Conference

The Walk/Bike California 2007 Conference will be held September 11-14 2007 in Davis, CA. Designed for urban planners, bike advocates, transportation engineers and others, the conference focuses on safety issues for pedestrians and bicyclists. For more information, click here.

 

Safe Routes to School Grants Awarded in Sonoma County

The City of Sebastopol and the City of Santa Rosa were each awarded $250,000 for Safe Routes to Schools grants. The money will be used primarily for education. The City of Santa Rosa did receive some additional funds for environmental improvements. Cotati and Rohnert Park also were awarded a smaller Safe Routes to School grant. Safe Kids Sonoma County’s goal with these programs is to develop a countywide Safe Routes to School program similar to the existing program in Marin.

 

Mercury Fever Thermometer Exchange

BE MERCURY-FREE. Mercury is toxic and can cause damage to the nervous system, brain, kidneys, liver, and immune systems in humans and animals. click here for a flyer listing several dates and locations throughout Sonoma and Mendocino County where old mercury thermometers can be exchanged for a new digital thermometer. These exchanges provide an opportunity to upgrade the supplies in your medicine cabinets and to protect the environment. The thermometer exchanges are sponsored by the Russian River Watershed Association , an association of eleven cities, counties and special districts in the Russian River Watershed that have come together to coordinate regional programs for clean water, fisheries restoration and watershed enhancement.

In addition to the dates and locations listed on the flyer, there is also an exchange scheduled for May 14 from 10 am to 5 pm at the Rohnert Park Senior Center, 6800 Hunter Drive, Suite A.