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EPA AND SEAWORLD PARTNER TO CELEBRATE CHILDREN’S HEALTH MONTH, EDUCATE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS

Release Date: 10/10/2002
Contact Information:



ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Contacts: Steffanie Bell, EPA, 202-564-6976

Susan Flower, SeaWorld Public Relations: office 407-363-2286;

cell 407-221-3810; pager 407-981-1354


EPA Administrator Christie W hitman was in SeaWorld Orlando today to celebrate Children’s Health Month with local fourth graders from Windy Ridge Elementary School and to recognize the adventure park for its efforts to help educate children and visitors to the park about issues like sun safety. SeaWorld, in recognition of Children’s Health Month, will be focusing on sun safety throughout the month of October by incorporating information into its existing education programs, website and park map. Today was declared “Day in the Park for Children’s Health” at the park.

“This month EPA and SeaWorld are celebrating Children’s Health Month,” said EPA Administrator Whitman. “All during October, we are trying to make sure parents, teachers, and kids know about some of the things they can do to help protect the health of America’s children. We really appreciate SeaWorld’s efforts to promote Children’s Health Month. By taking these steps, SeaWorld is showing what it means to be a good corporate citizen and I want to thank everyone involved.”

Whitman joined Keith Kasen, SeaWorld Orlando’s GM and Executive Vice President and Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood at the adventure park.

The quality of the air, water and land has a direct effect on the health of families, and especially children. To honor Children’s Health month, representatives of the EPA will participate in events calling on the public to discover the rewards of protecting children's health. These events and other steps to protect children from environmental risks can be found on EPA's new Children's Health Month web site at: https://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-childrenshealthmonth.htm. EPA is focusing on children's health because children may be at greater risk from harmful environmental pollutants than adults. Children's neurological, immunological, digestive and other body systems are still developing. They eat more food, drink more fluids and breathe more air than adults in proportion to their body weight. And finally, their behavior patterns, such as crawling and placing objects in their mouths, may result in greater exposure.

EPA's new web site links to a multi-agency site, www.childrenshealth.gov, that provides information on topics critical to children's health, including prevention of childhood illnesses, protection of children from environmental health risks, education and child care, safe cycling, child passenger safety, nutrition, parenting, infant mortality, mental health and more. A unique October calendar with a "tip a day" is also available for parents and children as a fun tool to participate in Children's Health Month. The site is part of a coordinated effort of the President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children to celebrate Children's Health Month in 2002.

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