Family Safety Fest Attracts Almost 600

Alton Memorial Hospital gave out 309 bike helmets to children 4-12 at the third annual Family Safety Fest. That's almost 40 more helmets than last year's record. A team of fitters also made sure helmets fitted correctly for each child.

"No helmet, no bike," says Susan Woelfel, AMH Emergency Department nurse, who helped organize the Family Safety Fest. "That's what I always tell my children, and all children need to know that. These helmets will make them a lot safer when riding their bikes."

Joseph Cangas, MD, a pediatrician from Waterloo, Illinois, attended the event with his organization, Helmets First. Dr. Cangas helped distribute helmets and with the fittings.

"This is a terrific event," says Rusty Ingram, AMH public relations and marketing manager. "Free bike helmets are a great value, plus our visitors got to enjoy a free lunch from the Bethalto Kiwanis. They also enjoyed the demonstration by Piasa Martial Arts and the appearance of an ARCH helicopter."

The Family Safety Fest included a rollover vehicle display, the Alton Fire Department smokehouse and the mobile health unit from Lewis and Clark Community College that provided blood pressure checks and a hand-washing demonstration. There were several informational tables, including the Family Birth Center, dietitian Naomi Ward, and the EMS unit from Alton Memorial.