Jackson Optimist program at park teaches children about staying

Two eggs showed children the reason for wearing seat belts at the Jackson Noon Optimist Safety City program at City Park Saturday.

Optimist member Anita Sievers used the eggs in a mock demonstration of a car wreck. Two toy cars traveled down a ramp separately, headed for a brick. One egg was strapped in with first aid tape while the other was not. The unrestrained egg jumped the brick.

"We can't make everything safe for you," Sievers told them. "You have to do some on your own."

But more than 20 children who registered for the safety program did get plenty of help before riding in the mock city complete with traffic signs, paved streets and miniature buildings.

Club president Judi Owens stressed the importance of fitting children properly for bicycle helmets. The process of attaching inside padding, adjusting tethers and fastening buckles n the helmets took about five minutes per child.

"They need to fit just right in order to be effective," Owens said.

Jackson police officer Tricia Hecht delivered bike safety information in a question and answer format.

The two-hour program was divided into roughly an hour of instruction and an hour of riding on the course. Groups of four or five children were led by an instructor through the course.

Bev Nelson, Sievers and Dixie Moore were instrumental in getting Safety City built.

"Everything, including the design, was donated," Nelson said. Plans for the city, based on a village she had visited in North Chicago, began in February 1992. By the end of May that year, a concrete roadway, 1,300 feet long and 8 feet wide, had been constructed, landscaping was completed and traffic signs were in place .

"We had awesome cooperation by citizens and businesses concerned for kids' safety," Nelson said.

Chip Hughes of Jackson came to the program for the first time and brought his 5-year-old son. He said he thought it was a good time to go over safety rules. His children, Sierra and Gabe, visit Safety City with their mother once a week when weather permits.

"Gabe gets on his bike and goes," Hughes said. "When we're out for a family ride, Gabe and his mom, Kelly, are in the lead."

Besides bicycle safety, children were also reminded about fire safety by members of the Jackson Fire Department.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133