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A member of the National
Safe Kids Campaign
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SAFE KIDS Are No
Accident!
"If a disease were
killing our children at the rate unintentional injuries are, the
public would be outraged and demand that this killer be
stopped"
C.
Everett Koop, M.D.
Retired Chairman
National SAFE KIDS
Campaign |
What is the....
Arizona Safe Kids Coalition?
Arizona Safe Kids is a state-wide program dedicated to the prevention of
unintentional injury for Arizona’s children under 15 years of age. Arizona
Safe Kids is a member of the National Safe Kids Campaign. Local Safe Kids
Coalitions throughout Arizona receive leadership and technical assistance from
Arizona Safe Kids.
Why is this
program needed?
Childhood injuries remain the leading cause of death for Arizona’s children.
Motor vehicle
accidents are the most common cause of injury.
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Only one in five of the
child passengers who died in motor vehicle accidents in 2003 was using
restraints. Almost half were sitting in the right front passenger seat
(Arizona Child Fatality Review Board)
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Over 10 percent of
Arizona’s children ride unrestrained and more than 80 percent of child
safety seats are installed, placed, or used incorrectly (Governors Office
of Highway Safety)
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Child safety seats are
71 percent effective in reducing fatalities among infants (younger than 1
year old), 54 percent effective for toddlers (1 to 4 years old), and
booster seats in children (4 to 8 years old) are 59 percent more effective
than vehicle safety belts (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Drowning is
the second most common cause of injury.
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In 2003, the Arizona
Child Fatality Review Board identified that 25 children (most between 1
and 4 years of age) died of preventable drowning accidents
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The most effective
interventions to avoid drowning are focused adult supervision, four sided
isolation fencing with self-closing/self-latching gate, and ability to
swim by age 8 (National Safe Kids Campaign)
What are the
goals of the program?
Arizona Safe Kids’ mission is to reduce unintentional injuries to Arizona
children by creating safer homes and communities through education and
intervention.
Community assessments and action plans are developed each year, providing
detailed strategies to reduce childhood injury in communities across Arizona.
What has the
program achieved?
In Arizona, there are five local Safe Kids Coalitions, one local chapter, and
the Arizona State Coalition. Educational materials, assistance in creating new
coalitions, and other injury prevention strategies for communities are
available from the Arizona Safe Kids Coalition.
Local Coalition accomplishments include regular car seat testing events, a
permanent car seat testing site, child passenger safety (CPS) technician
certification and development of resource materials for public education.
Follow the links below to learn more about Safe Kids and the local coalitions.
Fact Sheets:
Need more
information?
Tomi St. Mars, RN, BSN, CEN,
Program Manager
150 N. 18th Ave., Suite 320
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-7340
Fax: (602) 364-7340
Email: stmarst@azdhs.gov
Additional
Website Links:
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