By Patterson                                         H.C.R. No. 276

         75R14182 JTR-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On May 20, 1997, health care professionals and

 1-2     concerned Texans from around the state will be in Austin to

 1-3     celebrate Think Child Safety Day at the State Capitol; part of

 1-4     Emergency Medical Services Week, this occasion furnishes an ideal

 1-5     opportunity to inform a wider public about the Think Child Safety

 1-6     program; and

 1-7           WHEREAS, Created by Paris/Lamar County paramedics, this

 1-8     worthwhile program is designed to increase public awareness of

 1-9     injury prevention safeguards through a number of innovative means;

1-10     and

1-11           WHEREAS, One of the program's most effective techniques is

1-12     that of training high school  students as safety educators; after

1-13     receiving instruction in injury prevention from health care

1-14     professionals, the students themselves team up with paramedics,

1-15     firefighters, and law enforcement officers to make presentations in

1-16     elementary schools; and

1-17           WHEREAS, By involving students more directly in the

1-18     educational process, this ingenious approach instills the

1-19     principles of injury prevention in children at a young age even as

1-20     their older counterparts gain valuable experience in community

1-21     interaction; and

1-22           WHEREAS, Children are the Lone Star State's most precious

1-23     natural resource, and the dedicated volunteers and sponsors who

1-24     have given freely of their time, talent, and resources to the Think

 2-1     Child Safety program are indeed deserving of every Texan's deepest

 2-2     respect and gratitude; now, therefore, be it

 2-3           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-4     hereby designate May 20, 1997, as Think Child Safety Day at the

 2-5     State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all those

 2-6     associated with this program for continued success in the future.