The Bryan County Health Department recently received a 2014 Car Seat Mini-Grant from the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program.
Through the grant, the department and community partners will work to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Bryan County. This program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.
“It’s our responsibility to keep our children safe,” said Bryan County Health Department nurse manager Joanne Burnsed. “The Car Seat Mini-Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our kids from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.”
Since 2007, at least 262 children in Georgia who were involved in crashes were saved from serious injury or death by car seats, booster seats, and education provided through the mini-grant.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars.
Car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash, and they are most effective when installed and used correctly. Nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.
Through the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies supporting more than 130 counties are working to keep Georgia’s children safe. These programs help families get their children buckled up right, every trip, every time.
For more information about the Bryan County car seat program, contact Laurie R. Mehlhorn at the Bryan County Health Department at 756-2611.