GPHealth, HOPE-ESPERANZA: SAFETY CLASSES KICK INTO GEAR
With a smile and Spiderman kneepads, 8-year-old Micah Martin carefully holds a small watermelon buckled into a bicycle helmet. On the count of three, he drops it to the cement.
The melon survives.
Kellie Mahanes, BSN, RN, CEN, Great Plains Health trauma coordinator, removes the helmet and tells Micah to drop the melon again. The melon smashes to the ground, cracking and dripping watermelon juice. For an energetic and adventurous boy like Micah, the demonstration leaves an impact. “It taught me to put on a helmet so it’s not my head that cracks,” reflected Micah, who attended a bicycle safety course on May 23, coordinated by Great Plains Health and HOPE-Esperanza. “That activity teaches kids to protect their melon - their head - when they’re riding a bicycle,” said Mahanes. “The goal with these classes is to keep families out of the emergency department. We want to open the conversation about health topics and share best practices to keep our community well.” Micah and the other attendees learned about why you should wear a helmet and kneepads, how to check your bicycle to make sure it runs smoothly and more.
Pictured: Maria Rodriguez, HOPE-Esperanza director of youth and family services; Sophia Munoz, HOPE-Esperanza director of communication and outreach; Micah Martin, student; and Kellie Mahanes, BSN, RN, CEN, Great Plains Health trauma coordinator, pose for a photo at May 23’s bicycle safety training class, where attendees learned about the protective gear to wear on a bicycle ride, including a helmet, knee pads and elbow pads.
Great Plains Health and HOPE-Esperanza are collaborating to provide health and safety classes for the growing community in Greater Nebraska. HOPE-Esperanza is a local nonprofit organization with the goal of empowering families to live healthy lives, overcome hardship, and promote belonging and well-being. “Our goal is to make North Platte welcoming and inclusive, and build a community where everyone feels like they belong,” said TinaMaria Fernandez, HOPE-Esperanza founder. “HOPE- Esperanza is leading a multi-sector community collaborative project, Building HOPE in Community. There will be approximately 40 opportunities throughout the year for community members to come together, volunteer together, have fun and celebrate together.”
Bicycle safety is not the only topic that Great Plains Health and HOPE-Esperanza are embarking upon together. A STOP THE BLEED class led by Mahanes is scheduled for the fall, and plans for other classes are in progress. STOP THE BLEED is a training that gives the general public techniques to help in a bleeding emergency before professionals arrive at the scene. “This partnership reflects a proactive approach to meeting evolving community needs before a health concern even comes up,” said Megan McGown, Great Plains Health chief development officer. “We love seeing the confidence and excitement of children like Micah increase as they learn the importance of safety and wellness. That’s what makes our community stronger and healthier.”
SAVE THE DATE STOP THE BLEED September 5 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. HOPE HUB 1013 S. Cottonwood St. North Platte, NE 69101
Bicycle safety tips • Wear a helmet with a proper fit (level on the head, a snug but not tight fit) • Ensure proper bike fit • Make sure brakes, gears and tires are properly working • Use reflector and lights at dusk and dawn
No registration is necessary for this event. For more information about the Building HOPE in Community project, call:
English: 308.660.5935 Español: 308.650.2451
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