Street Sentz event yields ID kits for 300 children

Published 5:00 am Monday, October 4, 2004

Hundreds of children turned out Saturday for the second annualStreet Sentz Kids Safety Day at Harvey Electronics.

The event, sponsored by Radio Shack and the National Center forMissing & Exploited Children, allowed parents to haveidentification kits made for their children and to obtaininformation on keeping their children safe.

“(The event) is designed to protect our most precious resource -our children,” event coordinator Susan Harvey said. “Hopefully,nothing will ever happen to these children, but if something wereto happen to them, at least parents will have the ID kits.”

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The children’s identification kits consisted of fingerprints, adental chart, a photograph and small bag for hair clippings. Harveysaid it is important to put the kits in the freezer forpreservation.

“It’s just so important for parents to have this informationabout their children,” she said.

Many volunteers were on hand to participate in the safety dayevent. The Brookhaven Police Department took fingerprints; dentistDr. Shannon Patterson examined children’s mouths to makefundamental dental charts; Harvey Electronics employees printeddigital photographs; and the Lion’s Club was on hand to conduct eyeexaminations.

Also on hand was King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Kim Bridge,who was checking car safety seats. Bridge said the majority ofchild safety seats used in cars are installed incorrectly. By 2p.m., 12 parents had brought a seat in to be checked.

“Of those 12, three were installed correctly. We’ve had to makeadjustments to the other nine,” said Bridge, adding thatdifferences in manufacturers and vehicle models accounted for manyincorrect installations. Bridge said seats also need to be adjustedas a child grows and encouraged parents to frequently take intoaccount a child’s weight and to seek advice when installingseats.

Entertainment was also provided for the children. Inky the clownattracted crowds with his juggling and balloon-sculpting skills,the Big Red Train was present to give kids rides, and a moonwalkalso was bustling with activity throughout the afternoon.

Approximately 300 kids turned out for the event, Harveysaid.

“Even if it was just 100, it would still be a hundred kids thatwe protected,” she said.

She said although Radio Shacks around the country participate inthe Street Sentz Kids Safety Day, the staff at the Brookhaven andMonticello locations were noted for being most involved. Harveysaid the local store was featured in the national publication forthe Radio Shack chain last year for its involvement with theevent.

“It’s a rewarding day. We get to see all these beautifulchildren,” Harvey said.