Superbowl of Safety teaches kids to avoid accidents

By Richard Ryman

Hula hoops, Coast Guard helicopters and firefighters everywhere, the 11th Superbowl of Safety kept kids busy and occasionally in awe Saturday in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Justin Lodl of Safe Kids said information and fun stuff to do make a good teaching combination, and reinforcing safety lessons can't be done too often.

"Safety isn't something you teach a kid once and never go back and do again," she said.

The event was sponsored by Bellin Health and Safe Kids of Greater Green Bay.

At the Red Cross booth, Linda Wallenfang was teaching how to help someone who was choking. Dalton Kohlbeck, 11, a fifth-grader at Jackson Elementary School, patted the back of the training dummy, trying to dislodge an obstruction. Well, pounded more than patted.

"Yeah, it's hard," said Kohlbeck, who said he'd need more practice before trying it on a live person.

The event included tips for keeping children safe from poisons, accidents and other health hazards. Other topics included proper 911 dialing, car seats, crime prevention, household chemicals and water safety.

Kameron Allen, 11, of Chappell Elementary School watched as a Wisconsin Public Service Corporation representative demonstrated what happens when people touch downed power lines. When the small model of a man touched a tree branch leaning against a power line, there were sparks everywhere.

"Whenever (the model) put his hand of the tree, he got all electrocuted," Ahnen said.

He added that it was something he was not likely to forget.

On a stage near the escalators, Morghan Dufresne, 8 and Makayla Brown, 8, of Chappell Elementary School, displayed their Hula Hooping skills with notable enthusiasm.

"She steals my (trick) hoop away from me all the time," said Mary Pulak of Hooked on Hooping, who shared the stage with her two students. "They make it look easy."

Dufresne twirled a hoop over her head as Pulak spoke, then motioning toward her friend Brown said, "I just taught her that. It took five minutes."

Debbie Leoni, Bellin Health community outreach coordinator, said health also is a safety issue. She said teaching kids to have fun with activities such as Hula Hooping allows them to exercise without realizing it.

She said about 1,600 people and 30 presenting organizations attended Saturday's four-hour event.