BURRILLVILLE – As you are well aware, we have just been dealt a severe winter snowstorm and it’s been bitterly cold in this area over the past few weeks.
But, is it safe to go skating on ponds, lakes or other open bodies of water right now? Probably not.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island State Parks Management have specific open water ice safety tips located on their official website for teens, adults and parents. This week’s Sunday Cartoon features a variety of open water ice safety tips specifically for kids to color in and learn about skating safety as well as walking across ponds and lakes during the winter months.
The Fearless Dino Protector Squad and Fire Chief also remind kids to wear safety helmets when participating in these types of outdoor winter activities. With weather forecasts calling for milder temperatures and rain later this week, it is very important that these open water safety coloring cartoons reach little kids across the state of Rhode Island and entire region. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, pediatric doctors, pediatric nurses, librarians, daycare staff, grade school teachers and nurses can be the difference between a child becoming aware of these dangers and remaining safer, or a child not having a clue about these dangers and put in harm’s way.
Kids love to color, and these Sunday Cartoons are created every week to help keep them safer in their daily lives. I’m certain kids aren’t reading this article right now. An adult is reading this article and has access to a weekly series of life changing formats with a variety of injury-prevention and life saving materials created just for kids. They also open doors to safety communication and dialogue with family members and friends. Sharing is also a huge plus today with social networks and text capabilities. Take advantage of these platforms and help keep kids safer. Share! To access more ice safety tips visit the RI Parks website link. It is featured on this week’s Sunday Cartoon.
Jim Weicherding is a Burrillville resident, and the founder and creator of an award-winning traffic safety effort Seasons of Safety. Weicherding contributes kids’ coloring cartoons, which can be printed and used to help parents discuss safety issues with their children. He has a long list of police officers and firefighters in his family and has worked with law enforcement and firefighters in a creative public safety capacity for more than two decades. Jim was also appointed to Children Across America as their events and creative director for their child safety programs initiatives and outreach kids safety campaigns nationwide.