March 01, 2004

By: Gretta Anderson
Website: http://www.1st-in-kids.com

Cobb Safe Kids Coalition Is Working For Children's Safety

A local branch of the national SAFE KIDS campaign is making a large impact on the safety of children in Cobb County proving, SAFE KIDS are no accident. Cobb SAFE KIDS Coalition is leading the way in children’s safety in Cobb County.

Since its inception 14 years ago, the program has made strides on improving safety conditions for children across the county. The group pledges to raise public awareness of preventable injuries, to support public policy on child safety and to provide safety education to parents, caregivers, children and youth.

The Coalition accomplishes this by sponsoring safety events, conducting safety presentations, working with local media and distributing child safety information and equipment. In the past year, SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP, a program of the organization, has been responsible for checking more than1,000 car seats, distributing more than 500 children’s safety seats and educating more than 1,500 parents on child safety. All of this work is to reach one goal- to prevent injuries and save lives.

According to national statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children ages one to 14. Each year it is estimated that 1,700 children die in automobile crashes and another 264,000 are injured. Proper safety restraints reduce the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages one to four. Restraints also have been shown to reduce the need for hospitalization by 69 percent in children under the age of four.

The national SAFE KIDS campaign relies on the support of more than 300 state and local SAFE KIDS Coalitions like the Cobb SAFE KIDS Coalition. These coalitions are in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The groups work closely with law enforcement offices, firefighters and paramedics, medical and health professionals, educators, parents, grandparents, businesses, public policy-makers and children.

About The Author:

Gretta Anderson is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com.  Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.