DANVILLE - A free ATV safety training course sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and National Resources (PA DCNR) will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 21, for children ages 8 to 15 at the proposed trail head, south of Burnside, on Route 125, Coal Township, Northumberland County.
ATV safety course scholarships were secured for 100 children by the Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention Program at Janet Weis Children's Hospital of Geisinger Medical Center (GMC) through funding provided by Children's Miracle Network at Geisinger. Pennsylvania law requires that children ages 8 to 15 complete the course to operate an ATV, with the exception of driving on land that is owned or leased by a parent or guardian.
"Children younger than 16 years of age make up 38 percent of ATV deaths and 37 percent of ATV injuries," said Carol Hanson, R.N., M.S.N., pediatric trauma coordinator at GMC. "Our hope is that this course will provide young ATV operators with safe riding skills to reduce the number of pediatric ATV injuries and deaths."
Certified PA DCNR safety instructors will teach the course, which is open to the public. Additional safety courses will also be offered on the third Saturday of each month through September.
For more information or to register, contact Jane Gaugler, Northumberland County Planning Department, at 570-988-4220, extension 4119. Class size is limited and registration is required.