Several county health departments in the West Central Health District were awarded the 2017 Car Seat Mini Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program. Through the Mini Grant, some health departments work with other agencies to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families.  The following counties in the West Central Health District received the Mini Grant: Chattahoochee, Crisp, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, and Webster. 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.

And it works! Since 2007, the education, car seats, and booster seats provided through the Mini Grant prevented serious injury or death and saved over 300 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes. 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.

“It’s our mission to keep our children safe,” said Pam Fair, Coordinator for Safe Kids Columbus, which is partnering with the Columbus Health Department to distribute the car seats in Muscogee County.  “The Car Seat Mini Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our children from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.” In Muscogee County, Safe Kids Columbus educates parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offers car seat inspections and provides car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. Through the Car Seat Mini Grant, several 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.

To find the health department in your county, visit www.westcentralhealthdistrict.com.

For more information about Safe Kids Columbus, call 706-321-6720.