BABY SHOWER WILL FOCUS ON DRIVING, HOME SAFETY

Expectant parents and new parents are cordially invited to the baby shower to top all baby showers hosted by the Cape Girardeau Traffic Safety Committee.

The shower, which will be Saturday, Oct. 23, in the Oak Room of the Holiday Inn on Route K at Interstate 55, was designed by the committee to offer parents safety tips to protect their new children and themselves.

Sharee Galnore, a coordinator of the Community Traffic Safety division of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, believes the shower is an effective way to reach those people who know the least about child safety -- new parents.

Several agencies that focus on the safety and wellbeing of children and adults are scheduled to give brief presentations to the new parents.

For example, the Cape County Area Safe Kids Coalition will be on hand to stress the importance of the proper use of child safety seats in vehicles.

A police officer will also speak on the importance of proper child occupant restraints in a vehicle, and the consequences of failure to comply with state laws.

Representatives of the Cape Girardeau Fire Department will speak on fire prevention techniques that should be observed in the home, and the need for planned escape routes in case of a fire.

In addition to the safety presentations, JCPenney and Famous Barr will be hosting a childrens' fashion show.

During the course of the shower, the two department stores will be giving away more than $200 worth of merchandise each to the parents. Those who attend are also eligible to win child safety seats, nursery monitors and other goodies throughout the day.

At the close of the shower, there will be a grand-prize drawing for a "Pamper Yourself Evening," including hotel lodging for one night, dinner for two and movie passes.

"We want to keep it fun but also to have good, sound safety advice for the parents to take home with them," Galnore said.

"We're showing an 80 percent misuse of child safety seats among parents today," she said. "Motor vehicle accidents are the number-one killer of youth today. Educating parents is an important first step in teaching children proper safety habits."

Refreshments will be served throughout the day.

The shower is free and open to the public. For more information or to receive an invitation, call Galnore at 335-7908.