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30, 2000 Be safe, be seen, have a RoadWise Halloween No children injured last Halloween It's the night for ghosts and goblins, ghouls and gremlins - imagined terrors lurking behind every bush and under every doorstep. But Halloween is also a night of very real dangers for trick-or-treating children. An average of three Manitoba children are injured by motor vehicles on this night each year. Last year, there were none. That is why Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is once again teaming up with the Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA) to distribute glowsticks free of charge to over 124,000 kindergarten to grade six students across the province. To kick off this year's initiative, representatives from MPI and MBIA joined students and teachers at Fort Rouge School for a special Halloween party today. "Parents from this school were very appreciative of this program last year, " said Fort Rouge School principal Bob Davies. "We are located in a very busy traffic area and our students have to deal with crossing busy roads every time they come to school or go to a playground." "Motorists can't avoid children they can't see," said Jack Zacharias, MPI's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We're encouraging students to carry a glow stick or wear it on their costumes to help them be more visible to motorists. "It is important to us that young children are safe on Manitoba roads all year round, but especially so come Halloween when thousands of children are out after dark." And while Zacharias encourages motorists to slow down and be particularly careful on this night, he also wants parents and children to be reminded that they can take steps to ensure their own safety. Along with the glow sticks, each student will receive a letter with road safety tips to take home to their parents. "Injury prevention is a very important part of what we do," said MBIA president Glen Bergeron. "And because so many children are out after dark on Halloween, that night presents a particular risk for injury." Participating schools are being asked to send the glowsticks and letters home with students on Monday, October 30. For those who would like additional glowsticks, the MBIA is selling them through their office and at all Boston Pizza outlets in Manitoba. All funds raised through the sale of these glowsticks will help provide support services to people with brain injury and their families in Manitoba. Contact: Carol Standil/Brian Smiley MPI Media Relations - 985-7300 Or toll-free in Manitoba 888-554-9549
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