DERBY — In honor of International Safe Kids Month, Griffin Health and Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley are partnering to provide tips, resources, and devices to help parents and caregivers keep their kids safe at a time when preventable injuries are on the rise.
There will be a free child safety education event Thurs., May 22 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Griffin Hospital, 130 Division St., Derby, offering information on proper car seat installations, including when a child can sit without a booster, water safety, and home safety, and prizes and giveaways.
Summer often includes exciting outdoor activities, vacations, but it’s also a time known as “trauma season” among health professionals because unintentional injuries and deaths increase dramatically among children. According to Safe Kids, 42% of all deaths from unintentional injuries occur during the months of May through August.
“During this time when parents are focused on many priorities at once, Safe Kids Month is a national celebration dedicated to raising awareness about child injury prevention and inspiring parents to focus on proven and practical tips to keep their kids safe, no matter where they live,” said Cathi Kellett, Griffin Health Community Outreach & Parish Nurse Department Special Programs supervisor and Safe Kids Greater Naugatuck Valley Coalition coordinator.
Preventable injuries are the number one cause of death of children in the U.S., and millions more are injured in ways that can affect them for a lifetime. Unintentional injuries among children ages 1 – 4 are 1.8 times higher during the summer months compared to the rest of the year. For children ages 5 – 9 and 10 – 14, unintentional injuries are 1.5 times higher during this time period.
“Do you have the right car seat for your child’s weight, height, and age? Do you have a fire escape plan and have you practiced it like kids do at school? Are your medicines out of reach? Usually, parents have these items on their “to-do” list, they just find it hard to make it a priority,” said Kellett. “Safe Kids Month is a perfect time to make it happen.”
This free program is part of Griffin’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of its community through free education, guidance and assistance in preventing injuries, and in promoting overall wellness. Griffin’s mission is to empower individuals to make choices that change their lifestyles for the better, and to go beyond caring for individuals when they are not well by building a meaningful relationship, guiding, and coaching them to maximize their quality of life.
