A Terre Haute family is using tonight’s rare blue moon to ease their grief and — they hope — prevent injuries to children in the future.
James and Amanda Wallace, whose granddaughter was seriously injured earlier this month in an auto accident, are asking Wabash Valley residents to meet downtown to howl at the full moon.
“This helps us dig out of a deep, dark place,” said James Wallace.
Wallace’s granddaughter, Heavenlee-Angel Johns, 5, was badly hurt Dec. 13 in an auto accident on U.S. 40 near Rose-Hulman. Johns, who remains at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, was wearing a seat belt when the accident occurred, but was not in an approved child safety seat, according to the Indiana State Police.
The Wallaces hope to use tonight’s blue moon — a rare second full moon in a calendar month — to help raise awareness about the importance of keeping young children in approved child safety seats.
“We just want to help others avoid what we’ve been going through,” Wallace said.
Chances for Indiana Youth, the Terre Haute Children’s Museum, Ryves Youth Center at Etling Hall and the Indiana State Police all are supporting the howling event, Wallace said. Chances for Indiana Youth, through its Vigo Safe Kids program, promotes the proper use of child safety seats.
The accident in which their granddaughter was injured is still fresh in the Wallaces’ hearts and minds, James Wallace said. Organizing the Blue Moon Howl for Child Safety helps them deal with the terrible shock and grief they are feeling.
“It’s the only way that we can deal with it,” Wallace said.
Child safety seats, when properly used, can reduce the risk of fatal injury for children younger than age 1 by 71 percent, according to federal figures. For children ages 1 to 4, the risk is reduced by 54 percent.
The Wallaces hope tonight’s event will be the first of several designed to promote the proper use of child car seats and restraints. “We hope this will blossom into a greater, longer commitment to child safety,” he said.
The Blue Moon Howl for Child Safety will take place — regardless of weather conditions — at 6 tonight at the Crossroads Plaza at 647 Wabash Ave.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Check it out
What: Blue Moon Howl for Child Safety
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Crossroads Plaza at 647 Wabash Ave.
Why: To raise awareness of the need for the use of child safety seats in motor vehicles.
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Family using blue moon to raise child safety awareness
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