Child Health Day, 2002

Proclamation 7603 of October 4, 2001

Child Health Day, 2002

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

On Child Health Day, we renew our commitment to the
well-being and safety of our children. Parents,
families, teachers, and neighbors all play important
roles in preparing children to face life's physical,
spiritual, intellectual, and emotional demands. For the
future of our country, we must work together to provide
our young people with the knowledge and skills they
need to be safe, self-confident, and successful.

From maintaining a healthy environment and high safety
standards to providing immunizations and quality health
care, children rely on our vigilance and support. Each
year, 30 million children require emergency care due to
acute illness and injury. We can all take important
steps to help prevent these accidents and to improve
the health and safety of young Americans.

Parents and other caregivers should be aware of the
latest safety precautions and pay careful attention to
consumer safety warnings. They should always secure
infants, toddlers, and small children in safety seats
and booster seats. Children should be taught always to
wear their seatbelts when riding in a vehicle and to
use protective gear when riding a bicycle, roller
blading, skate boarding, playing sports, and
participating in other similar activities. Parents
should set a good example by refraining from smoking
and should teach their children about the health risks
of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

Child obesity has become a serious problem in this
country. About 8 million young Americans--almost 15
percent of all children--are overweight. Obesity can
cause medical complications that can lead to
hospitalization for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and
asthma. Ensuring regular participation in physical
activity can help children manage weight, control blood
pressure, and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and
joints.

My Administration is strongly committed to advancing
programs that help children discover and understand the
benefits of healthy living. The recently introduced
HealthierUS Initiative will help Americans improve
their health and quality of life through modest
improvements in physical activity, nutrition, getting
preventive screenings, and making healthy choices.
Families play a vital role and can help to promote and
encourage these beneficial habits.

By committing ourselves to health and safety, we better
enable young people to achieve their goals, live
longer, fuller lives, and we strengthen our Nation. The
Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928,
as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the
designation of the first Monday in October as ``Child
Health Day'' and has requested the President to issue a
proclamation in observance of this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday,
October 7, 2002, as Child Health Day. On this day, and
on every day throughout the year, I call upon families,
schools, child health professionals, communities, and
governments to help all of our children discover the
rewards of good health and wellness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord two
thousand two, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-seventh.

(Presidential Sig.)B