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The Spirit of SAFE KIDS
By Robert Bull,
Veteran SAFE KIDS coalition coordinator
In 1982, my son Robbie, then 2
years old, pushed a stool up to the kitchen stove and pulled
a pot of boiling water onto his body. His recovery took
many months, and I spent much of that time at the Shriner’s
Burn Hospital in Boston witnessing the pain that Robbie and
the young children endured. I knew I had to do something to
stop this from happening to other children. Seven years
later, after years of independent injury prevention efforts,
I founded Maine’s statewide SAFE KIDS coalition, which I
have coordinated out of my barn in Temple, Maine, for the
last 12 years.
Having worked intimately with
SAFE KIDS for so many years, I can say that it is much
bigger than the national office in Washington, D.C. It’s
even bigger than its more than 300 coalitions. SAFE KIDS is
a groundswell of awareness and support for child injury
prevention that finds tens of thousands of busy parents,
grandparents and others helping to execute local safety
projects. SAFE KIDS has become a remarkable lifesaving
movement.
Some of the inspiration is
borne of success -- the 33 percent reduction in fatal
injuries during our first decade. Supporters and helpers
are motivated not so much by the numbers themselves, though,
as by their translation into specific lives staved, like the
two entire Maine families saved by SAFE KIDS-provided carbon
monoxide alarms, and the seven youngsters welcomed into
Maine’s Saved-By-My-Helmet Club just last year.
The challenge now is to keep
the spirit alive. The next 33 percent reduction in injuries
will be much harder to achieve. This means that we must
make our coalitions more stable, with longer term financial
support. It means igniting the SAFE KIDS spirit in every
single member of our coalitions. It means our efforts must
be multiplied by working with and through many other
organizations. The more Champions of SAFE KIDS we have
aboard, the greater the effectiveness of our noble mission.
The spirit of SAFE KIDS, only a
spark a decade ago, is now a contagious commitment to the
safety and well-being of children. Keep it glowing.
Safe Kids Worldwide Loses
Friend and Veteran Coordinator
Maine’s Bob Bull Cared for Children in Need
Through to His Last Wish
Robert Bull,
known as Bob to his friends at Safe Kids Worldwide, died
last Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008, following a sudden illness. He
was 76.
Bull was the
longtime coordinator of the Safe Kids Maine Coalition, one
of the original coordinators from the former National SAFE
KIDS Campaign. He received a lifetime achievement award
from the campaign in 2001 for his many years of service and
dedication to preventing accidental injuries to children.
“Bob was a true
gentleman who loved children and who was committed to saving
the lives of children throughout the state of Maine,” said
Martin R. Eichelberger, M.D., Safe Kids Worldwide founder
and director. “He provided enviable leadership that was
kind, gracious, positive, and always with a smile. The
children of Maine were very fortunate that Bob cared so much
for them; many families are unknowingly in his debt.”
In accepting his
lifetime achievement award, Bull explained that his
involvement in child injury prevention stemmed from a
kitchen accident involving his then 2-year-old son Robbie.
The toddler pushed a stool up to the stove and pulled a pot
of boiling water onto himself, requiring many months of
recovery from his burns.
“I knew I had to
do something to stop this from happening to other children,”
Bull wrote, and proceeded to found the Maine statewide
coalition, which he ran out of his barn for 12 years.
In an obituary he
wrote himself, Bull reflects on his years of working with
school children on American Indian culture injury prevention
messages. He also requested that no flowers or charitable
donations be made in his name. “Instead,” he wrote,
“persons inclined toward such kind acts are asked to do
something special to benefit a child in need.”
Safe Kids
Worldwide Public Policy Director Alan Korn remembers Bull’s
extraordinary efforts. "Bob was one of those rare
individuals who spent his entire professional life caring
for others,” Korn said. “I am most certain that his
commitment and love for Maine's children saved lives and
prevented horrific injuries. We will all miss him dearly."
Bull’s lifelong
commitment to helping others most recently found an outlet
in the Seed Missionary/Humanitarian Project, which provides
seeds and growing instructions to farmers in South Africa.
Dr. Eichelberger
remembers Bull for his concern for children not only in
Maine, but all over the world. “We will miss his ready
smile and uplifting perspective on the importance of our
global mission; to save the lives of children. We are all
the better for having known such an effective and
enthusiastic partner,” Dr. Eichelberger said. “Bob has
motivated us all to reach high so children can live a safe
and happy life.”
Friends are
encouraged to send stories and memories to Bull’s family at
robertabull@gmail.com
Robert L. Bull, 76
Father, teacher,
consultant.
Robert
Logan Bull of Temple, Maine died on Tuesday, February 26,
2008. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday March 8
at 1 PM at the Fairbanks Union Church, the chapel will be
open from 12 noon for quiet reflection and prayer, and will
be followed by a community dinner and celebration of his
life. He will be buried in the Spring in a family cemetery
near his home on Santa Claus Lake, where he lived since
1970.
Mr. Bull
was born in Pennsylvania on June 17, 1931, the son of Fred
Logan Bull and Laura Amos Bull, both of Maryland. He is
survived by son Stephen R. Bull and daughter-in-law Leslie
L. Bull, grandson Spencer Bull and his wife, Amanda, all of
Temple; grandson Michael Williamson and his wife, Monica, of
Arkansas; son Fred S. Bull and grandchildren Tyler, Zachary,
and Allie Bull, all of Pennsylvania; son Robert A. Bull and
daughter Laura J. Bull of Connecticut; sister Dorothy B.
O’Donnell and brother-in-law Edward P. O’Donnell of
Maryland; and close companion and friend Karen Clary of
Farmington.
The
deceased was educated at Deep Springs College, California,
Cornell University, and the University of Delaware, where he
devoted the first half of his career to teaching marketing
and interdisciplinary courses as a professor and department
chairperson. For the second half of his career, he headed
his own consulting organization, based in Temple, serving
clients worldwide – including Binney and Smith (Crayola),
and Johnson & Johnson. He authored over 700 manuals, books,
and magazine and journal articles on food, marketing, health
care, and child safety, plus several hundred newsletters on
the same subjects.
Robert
Bull was well known to school children throughout Maine for
his programs as “Tall Pine,” educating youth about our
American Indian cultural heritage. He presented hundreds of
programs on safety as founder of the Maine Coalition for
Safe Kids. He served for many years as a trustee of the
Pine Tree State 4-H Foundation, on the Board of the Maine
Congress of PTAs, and on the Board of the Safe Kids
organization.
He was the
recipient of many awards and citations that include the
Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence, the
National Small Business Advocate-of-the-Year Award of the
Small Business Administration, Maine’s Jefferson Award for
community service, the first Lifetime Achievement Award of
the National Safe Kids Campaign, and several comparable
citations from national food trade organizations. He also
was awarded honorary lifetime membership in such diverse
organizations as the Produce Marketing Association, the
Turkish orphanage society, and the Mushroom Growers
Association of England for his contributions assisting their
constituents.
In recent
years, one of his most-gratifying efforts was providing
vegetable seeds to impoverished African villages, and
learning how that project changed lives.
His
avocational interests centered on gardening, American Indian
history, promoting childhood injury prevention, orphanages,
writing family history, raising exotic poultry, and nature
studies.
In
accordance with his funeral instructions, he requested no
flowers or charitable donations in his name. Instead,
persons inclined toward such kind acts are asked to do
something special to benefit a child in need.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David.
1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
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