Safe Kids Day: Providing education to children for hazard-free world Published May 5, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Chad Thompson 90th Space Wing Public Affairs F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- The 11th annual Safe Kids Day event took place May 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Cheyenne Family YMCA. Al Dyke, drug demand reduction program manager, will be speaking to the children at the event about substance abuse. Mr. Dyke has an information wheel the children spin. Once the wheel stops on a subject, he uses cards to ask a question pertaining to drugs, alcohol, child neglect, sexual assault, water safety, bicycle safety and other forms of child safety. Mr. Dyke also provides children the chance to experience the effects of alcohol with intoxication goggles. The goggles are designed to simulate the effects of being intoxicated, and giving children this type of awareness early may help prevent them from drinking at a young age, Mr. Dyke said. "Prevention is what Safe Kids Day is all about," said Kathy McCoole, Warren's Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and this year's base volunteer coordinator for the event. She will be giving information to children to prevent child abuse and sexual assault at the event booth. "Statistically, one out of every four children will be abused at a young age and that not only affects the child's mental health but it will make them more susceptible to abuse at an older age," Mrs. McCoole said. "We want to provide children and their parents this information so they can be educated and watch out for signs or symptoms of abuse," she added. "It's important that we reach children and protect them from becoming a statistic." More than 1,000 children participated in the event last year and the event coordinators are expecting the same type of turn out this year, Mr. Dyke said. The event is open to all children and families. There will be face painters, car seat safety checks, a bike rodeo, bike helmet fittings and informational safety booths. For more information call Kathy McCoole at 773-3482, or Al Dyke at 773-2879.