The
Ohio Council of the National Association of Insurance Women International
contacted the Ohio insurance Institute (OII) seeking co-sponsorship
of its annual project. This project, called "TIKE,” (Toddler
Info Kept for Emergencies), is a child safety seat sticker. The bright
neon green sticker is to be placed on the bottom or back of a child
safety/booster seat to assist emergency personnel in identifying your
child should an accident disable the adults riding in the vehicle. The
sticker provides emergency and medical contact information.
On
the back of the sticker is the following story, which serves as the
basis of the program: “In 1995 a six-month old boy was involved
in a head-on traffic collision while riding with a relative. The driver
was left unconscious and the boy suffered a life-threatening head injury
that required immediate surgery. Police did not know the child's identity
and were only able to trace his parents because an address book was
located in the wreckage. Valuable time was lost due to this delay. The
boy was airlifted to a nearby hospital for emergency brain surgery.
He has since fully recovered. This sticker is to be placed on the bottom
of your child's car seat to assist emergency personnel in identifying
your child should an accident occur which disables the adults in your
vehicle.”
TIKE
stickers are free and can be ordered online from the Ohio Insurance
Institute at www.ohioinsurance.org.
To date, over 10,000 stickers have been distributed by members of NAIW
throughout Ohio and the OII has distributed over 50,000 stickers with
the goal of at least doubling that amount by fall, 2003. They are available
to individuals and safety groups, medical practitioners, childcare operators,
fire stations, EMS and hospital groups and others sharing in the common
interest of child safety.
ABOUT
THE OII
The OII is a trade association representing insurance companies and
agent groups for the property/casualty insurance industry. A primary
objective of the OII is to help Ohioans achieve a better understanding
of insurance and related safety issues.
ABOUT
THE NAIW
NAIW serves its members by providing professional education, an environment
in which to build business alliances and the opportunity to make connections
with people of differing career paths and levels of experience within
the insurance industry. The organization has 16 active chapters throughout
Ohio.
NAIW
fosters and encourages diversity, offering a network for members in
all career categories, all lines of insurance and all cultural and experiential
backgrounds. NAIW promotes mentoring, acceptance of change, personal
growth and flexibility of participation. Its membership spans the US,
Canada, Puerto Rico, England, Virgin Islands, Australia and Africa.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION
Contact
us at OHIONAIW@aol.com
.................... or
Mary Bonelli at www.ohioinsurance.org
TIKE CAMPAIGN IN OHIO
June 2008 Update:
Buckeye Insurance Women-Member Renee Linn went to the Car Seat
Safety check that was held at Wal-Mart recently. It was sponsored by
the Van Wert County Sheriff's Department and SAFE Kids. She passed TIKE
stickers out to vehicles that came through from 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Renee
also distributed a supply of stickers to MyLei Gay from the Van Wert
County Community Action Commission for their clients.
Renee
also has been monitoring the Central Insurance Company Bulletin Board
for new babies born to Central Employees and she follows up with a letter
explaining the TIKE program and sends copies of the stickers for their
child safety seats.
May
2008 Update:
Buckeye Association of Insurance Women is busy making TIKE stickers
available in their area! They have made them available to Van Wert County
Hospital to provide to new mothers and to Wee Care Day Care Center.
Ohio Council NAIW continues to promote distribution of TIKE stickers.
This is a statewide safety project and is shared with NAIW associations,
Councils and other organizations. Last fall Scioto Valley Association
of Insurance Women (Ross, Pike & Pickaway Counties) distributed
the bright green stickers at a child safety fair and at the spring home
and garden show in Chillicothe. In addition, through our contacts with
the Ohio Insurance Institute and MetLife Auto & Home the TIKE sticker
program is promoted on a nationwide basis.
In a partnership between The Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arizona and the
Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, TIKE stickers are being distributed
in the Northern AZ area. Life Line Ambulance, the largest private ambulance
service in Northern AZ, has been designated one of four distribution
organization for the stickers. Life Line Ambulance recently received
the "Community Service Award" presented by Wickenburg Community
Hospital. A hospital representative said, "We chose Life Line,
because, as it says on the Award, the company has offered outstanding
community service to our residents". The TIKE stickers are just
one of many services the Life Line provides.
The TIKE sticker safety project continues to grow and reach people all
across the country. The stickers can be ordered directly from OII on
their website at ohioinsurance.org
or e-mail us at OHIONAIW@aol.com.
The TIKE sticker campaign is off to a really good start. Ohio Council
Leaders met with Mary Bonelli of the OII on May 2, 2003. We will be
producing a news video release that will be sent to hundreds of media
contacts during the summer. Vikki Angelo, Insurance Women of Columbus,
will be our NAIW spokeswoman. Keep your eyes and ears open this summer
for a news story about TIKE. Let me know as soon as you know of a story
that is aired or printed.
We
discussed upcoming events where we can distribute stickers. On June
28, 2003, Ohio Council of NAIW members participated in the Ohio Kids
Fire Safety Expo in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This annual expo showcases the
dedication of Ohio’s fire service, while promoting safety education
and family enjoyment. It attracts 3,000-5,000 young families from a
50-mile radius of Central Ohio.
NAIW
members volunteered at the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
booth at the KidsFest in Cleveland, Ohio in July 2003. This 3-day festival
attracts 30,000 people interested in children’s activities and
safety. Featured will be the Big Apple Circus Performers, the Mad Science
Stage Show and the BMX Bike Thrill Show.
In
addition, WSYX-TV in Columbus will be sponsoring a child safety program
later this summer and expressed an interest in the TIKE sticker program
as well.
Members
of Ohio Council are distributing stickers through our 16 local associations.
Day care centers, pediatrician’s offices, fire stations, and children’s
hospitals are very receptive to this program and are willing partners
in TIKE sticker distribution. Ohio’s activities statewide include:
Buckeye
Insurance Women – The Van Wert County Hospital is giving
tickers to parents of newborns. Also, the Early Childhood Education
class that cares for children ages 3-5 at the Vantage Vocational School
is providing parents with stickers.
Insurance
Women of Cleveland – The association is provided TIKE stickers
to Safety Town programs and is working with Rainbow Babies & Children’s
Hospital to provide stickers to their Fit Stops (car seat safety inspection
stations) and the Safe Kids program.
Grand
Lake Area Insurance Women – The association is working with
the Mercer County Car Seat Coalition to distribute stickers at their
quarterly car seat safety checks. A local hospital will put the stickers
in the “Mom” bags that are handed out on the maternity floor.
Miami
Valley Insurance Women – The Forest Park Fire Department
agreed to distribute stickers as well a several local day care centers.
Insurance
Women of NE Ohio - Members handed out stickers at a community booth
at a shopping mall. The local paper, the Star Beacon, carried an article
about the project and the Ashtabula, OH local radio stations promoted
the project.
Scioto
Valley Ins. Women – Association will supply stickers to the
local EMS department, as well as OBGYN and pediatrician offices, to
give to parents.
Insurance
Women of Toledo – Members will promote TIKE at “Kids
Day” at the Westfield Shopping Town Mall as well as participate
in Henry County Car Seat Inspection Days.
Let Cathy Wolford and Vikki Angelo know what your association is doing
to distribute stickers. Try to gain local publicity for your event and
if you need help, call Cathy. Again, keep them informed of your efforts.