May 8, 2003

Kids’ Safety Comes First With These Advocates

INDIANAPOLIS - Each year, more than 6,000 children in the United States are killed and 120,000 injured in unintentional mishaps, many of which are avoidable. But there are adults in Indiana who are committed to eliminating those grim statistics altogether.

Those efforts were recognized by the Indiana Safe Kids Coalition, located at the Indiana University School of Medicine, at a special ceremony, May 7, in Indianapolis.

“Prevention of unintentional injuries is something in which every adult everywhere should fully participate,” notes Keisha Nickolson, coalition project manager. “Many people and organizations in Indiana go above and beyond the call to protect children and our annual awards program is one small way to recognize their large efforts.”

One individual and four organizations received 2003 Child Safety Advocate Awards. They are:

Tim Williams, Mishawaka

Williams, an officer with Mishawaka Police Department, is described as “vocal and dedicated” to child safety. He organizes and participates in child safety seat checks and inspection sites. Williams also works with Latinos in his community and was able to raise money to purchase child passenger seats for needy families.

Pace Chevrolet, Huntington

This car dealership is the lead agency in Huntington County to participate in a Safe Kids Chapter. Four of the company’s employees are certified car-seat technicians and it sponsors “Buckle Up” and “Bike Rodeo” events throughout the year. Pace also has a written company policy that every car and booster seat is inspected for the company’s customers.

Wishard Health Services Hispanic Health Project, Indianapolis

Wishard has “exhibited outstanding dedication to the growing and underserved Latino population in Marion County,” Safe Kids officials say. The project offers a variety of bilingual child passenger safety resources to the community and collaborates with the Automotive Safety Program for Children at the IU School of Medicine. Car-seat technicians affiliated with the Wishard program have assisted more than 200 Spanish-speaking families in the last year.

Allen County Safety Kids Coalition, Fort Wayne

In 2002, the coalition set up seat fitting sites in inner-city Fort Wayne, distributing more 200 free child passenger seats. Its Fire Safety Program teams up with local firefighters and coalition members to install and inspect smoke alarms in mobile homes throughout the county. The coalition’s Home Safety Program provides training to workers from various local social services agencies. Last year, it hosted a health-and-safety fair from new immigrants and refugees, providing translation services and organized a similar event for Amish families in the community.

Madison County Safe Kids Chapter, Anderson

The chapter distributed more than 200 bike helmets to children, sponsored two “Buckle Up” car seat checks and distributed 124 child seats. It also participated in pedestrian safety programs, distributed Halloween safety materials to 750 children and adults, and awarded $7,500 to purchase smoke detectors for families of newborns.

The Indiana Safe Kids Coalition has several chapters throughout the state and is part of the National Safe Kids Campaign, the nation’s only organization dedicated exclusively to prevent unintentional childhood injuries.

To learn more about the coalition and the Automotive Safety Program for Children at the IU School of Medicine, go to www.preventinjury.org. More information about the National Safe Kids Campaign can be found at www.safekids.org.

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Media Contact: Joe Stuteville
317-274-7722
jstutevi@iupui.edu

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