Safety Belt Programs for Children Age 9-10
100 Mile Challenge
Just before entering middle school, most children experience a confidence surge that helps prepare them for adolescence. This new confidence also enables them to influence the behavior of others. IPR developed the 100 Mile Challenge program to prepare preteens for independent traveling and to empower them to encourage family members and friends to buckle up.
The 100 Mile Challenge is an educational incentive program which is designed to increase the use of seat belts and bicycle helmets by fifth grade students and their families. Students are required to track the number of miles they travel either buckled up or in a bicycle helmet during a three-week period. Parents must sign student`s mileage records and must also assist with odometer readings to ensure their participation. Students who turn in their mileage sheets weekly are eligible to receive prizes that are donated by various local businesses.
The 100 Mile Challenge includes presentations by trauma nurses and local law enforcement, weekly worksheets, a poster contest, a poem/song contest and dramatizations. Students who meet the 100-Mile Challenge (by traveling at least 100 miles in a safety belt or bicycle helmet during the tree weeks) receive awards. Also rewarded are student winners of the various contest and those with the highest level of consistent participation.
The 100 Mile Challenge is presented to all fifth grade students in Lander, Riverton, Dubois, Shoshoni, Wind River and the Reservation schools.
Thank you Safe Kids of Wyoming (www.safekidswyoming.org) for providing the Safe Kids Van to IPR for use during the 100 Mile Challenge presentations .
Look for Robert Herny, IPR`s Safety Education Coordinator and the Safe Kids Van at your school.
South and Dubois Elementary School 5th graders are 2 of the Elemntary Schools participating in the 100 Mile Challenge and had the roll over demonstration showing what can happen to people in a roll over crash when they are not wearing their seat belts.
