In an attempt to reduce the number of such accidents this summer, the county's Children's Network, in cooperation with other regional organizations, launched a "Safe Kids Summer 2001" program Tuesday at the County Government Center.
The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Tuesday declaring the period from Thursday (the first day of summer) to Sept. 3 "Safe Kids Summer 2001" and participated in the raising of a red, teal and white "Children's Memorial Flag" to fly below the county's white, blue and gold flag all summer.
On hand for the ceremony was Laura Petersen of Corona, for whom the topic of accidental deaths of children holds a painful significance. Petersen's 6-month-old granddaughter, Kaitlyn Russell, died of hyperthermia Aug. 15 after being left in a sun-baked van for three hours by a baby sitter.
Petersen's group, 4 R Kids Sake, works to spread the message that children should never be left alone in a car, even for a second.
The time a parent might save by leaving a child in a car, however briefly, is not worth the risk to the child's life and safety, Petersen said. "The car is not a baby sitter and it is not childproof," she said.
The "Safe Kids Summer 2001" campaign is attempting to raise awareness on a number of children's safety issues, including correct use of child car seats, bicycle helmet use, pedestrian safety, playground equipment safety and the dangers of drowning.
The risks of children drowning has been highlighted again this month in Southern California, with the deaths of two Rancho Cucamonga children on June 10, the death of a Grand Terrace child in Chino Sunday and the death of a 4-year-old boy Sunday at the Malibu home of rocker Tommy Lee, all in backyard pools.In 1999, five San Bernardino County children died as the result of accidental drownings. In 2000, at least 12 children died in similar accidents, according to Claudia Spencer of the county's Child Death Review Board.
For more information on any child safety issues, call the Children's Network at (909) 387-8966.