Strike Out Inhalants with Batman in Kentucky

The Alliance for Consumer Education and Batman teamed up to Strike Out Inhalants in Kentucky!
Starting in Bowling Green, KY, ACE and Batman partnered with the Bowling Green Hot Rods to bring knowledge and awareness on inhalant abuse prevention to fans.  The Hot Rods sent inhalant abuse prevention folders and packets out to local schools leading up to the Strike Out Inhalants Awareness Night game.

At the July 21^st Strike Out Inhalants game, the Batmobile Lamborghini arrived at the ballpark where Batman greeted fans and talked to kids about staying healthy and not tasting products or substances before asking an adult.

Fans hold up their Jeff
Ames posters!

As fans entered the ballpark to meet Batman, they received a poster featuring Hot Rods Pitcher Jeff Ames (#34) and the Strike Out Inhalants logo.

ACE and Batman headed to the field for a pregame presentation where fans heard about the dangers of inhalants.  Two lucky fans joined Batman and answered inhalant abuse questions during the presentation.  Fans heard that there are more than 1,400 household products that can be abused and that one in five 8th graders have admitted to trying inhalants.  Batman started the game with the ceremonial first pitch.

Throughout the game, Batman had a continuous line of fans ready to meet him and get a Batman bracelet.  An ACE table was stationed next to the Lamborghini so fans could pick up information on inhalant abuse while waiting to meet Batman.

Batman and ACE then traveled to Louisville, where they partnered with Kosair Children’s Hospital and local YMCA’s to host a “Health and Safety Day.”    Batman started off the event with his arrival in the Batmobile as the more than 200 campers chanted, “Batman, Batman, Batman!”



Students wait outside the YMCA Health and
Safety Day for Batman to arrive.

Campers then rotated through eight stations learning about home health and safety, including seat belt safety, helmet safety, and poison prevention.  ACE and Batman represented two of the stations.  At the first station, the younger campers learned about what is safe to taste and what is not safe to taste by separating pictures into the correct category.  Through discussion, the campers learned that there are many products in the home that if used correctly can be very helpful.  However, if they are consumed or inhaled they can be very harmful.  Campers also completed, “I make a good Superhero in my home because….” cards to share how they would be like Batman and be safe in their homes.   Older campers broke into small groups where they tossed around a beach ball answering questions that were written on each colored section of the ball.   The questions helped the students develop ways to say no when asked to use inhalants or other drugs, helped them develop ways to relieve stress, and ways to cope with a bad day.   The questions also helped students think about their goals and dreams and why having goals may help them stay away from inhalants.

Batman talks with students about
being a superhero in the home.

Batman was at the second ACE station.  Students interacted with Batman in a smaller setting as he spoke to them about the need to be a Superhero in your home and treat your body well.   Batman reminded campers that it’s always important to ask an adult before tasting something.  He also told campers how important it is to keep their bodies healthy by reading directions and labels and not putting things in our bodies that are not meant to be consumed.
Batman ended the event by summarizing the stations and reminding the campers of the lessons they learned.


ACE thanks Kosair Children’s Hospital and the Bowling Green Hot Rods for their help and dedication to hosting such wonderful events!


For more pictures of ACE & Batman in Kentucky, check out the Inhalants website, here.