PeaceHealth St. John Medical Center in Longview recently teamed up with the Longview Police Department to hold a bike rodeo, teaching more than 50 local children the essentials of bike safety. The hospital’s trauma department provided free bike helmets and fittings, and offered bike safety checks. Teen volunteers set up obstacle courses for the younger riders and taught them how to use hand signals to ride safely while on roadways.The course even included a newspaper-tossing challenge, preparing those who have newspaper routes to do their jobs safely. A certificate and a goodie bag (with more safety information) closed out the day.
Hospitals don’t just treat patients; they also work to keep the community safe and help people ward off injuries or illnesses before they happen. Thanks to this great program, many Longview children are safer, and are also better informed to be an example for their peers. (Tim Pfarr)
