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Funded by The Medical Center Foundation's Healthy Journey Campaigns

Welcome to Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County

The Problem: Accidental childhood injury

Accidental injury is the number one cause of death among children ages 14 and under in the United States. Also, each year one out of every four children needs medical attention for an accidental injury.

The Solution: Safe Kids

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County is one of more than 450 grassroots coalitions in 17 countries that bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families. Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. We know our efforts are needed because as many as 90 percent of accidental injuries can be prevented.


About Us

Created in 1992, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County is one of 22 coalitions in Georgia - more


Programs

Child Passenger Safety, Fire Safety, Sports Safety, 911 Education - more

Safety Information

Georgia Child Safety Laws, fact sheets and safety tips for common childhood injuries - more

Community Partners

Our Community Partners provide the manpower and the brainpower for our coalition - more


 

 

 

 

What's New at Safe Kids?

Safe Kids Provides Free Lifejacket Loaner Stations at Van Pugh and Old Federal Parks

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County participates in launch of national program to reduce drownings and educate kids about water safety


Van Pugh North Park on Lake Lanier

This week, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County participated in the launch of Kids Don’t Float, a water safety program of Safe Kids USA that is designed to decrease drownings – the second leading cause of injury-related death to kids ages 1-14 – by providing loaner lifejackets at Van Pugh and Old Federal parks on Lake Lanier, and educating kids on open water safety.

“Because drowning is so prevalent in the United States, we were delighted to host a launch of the national Kids Don’t Float program,” says Kim Martin, coalition coordinator for Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County.

As part of the program, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County has set up two lifejacket loaner stations at Lake Lanier, one at Van Pugh North Park on Gaines Ferry Road and one at Old Federal Park on Jim Crow Road.  Each station holds eight loaner lifejackets, ranging in size from small child to adult.  The lifejackets are available for use at no charge, to be returned to the unmanned stations at the end of the day.  Each station also provides education tips from “PFD Otter” on the importance of wearing lifejackets as well as instructions on how to properly fit a lifejacket.

 “As children grow older, the drowning risk increases for them in open water settings, in part because they are less apt to wear a lifejacket,” says Martin.  “Through the support and resources of Safe Kids USA, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County hopes that by providing loaner lifejackets and educating our children and caregivers, we can reduce drowning fatalities and increase child safety in open water settings.”

Kids Don’t Float was developed in Homer, Alaska, to combat the high rate of drownings in Alaska.  The program was then expanded by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the State of Alaska, Alaska Safe Kids and representatives from different community organizations to be used throughout Alaska.

Thanks to the success of Kids Don’t Float, Safe Kids USA has expanded the program to include 38 lifejacket loner stations at 19 locations nationwide.  The locations include stations in Savannah, Ga.; Marietta, Ga.; Gainesville, Ga.; Holland, Mich.; Richland, Wash; Kelso, Wash.; Yakima, Wash.; Silverdale, Wash.; Tacoma, Wash.; Houston, Texas; Austin, Texas; Lebanon, N.H.; Portland, Ore; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Manitowoc, Wis.; Lakewood, Colo.; Topeka, Kansas; and Robbinsdale, Minn.

“We want to educate kids on open water safety and how important it is to always wear a lifejacket in and around open water,” says Martin.  “We want to make this educational learning experience fun for them so the safety messages stay with them for life.  Properly wearing a lifejacket in and around open water is an important safety precaution that can help reduce drownings and save kids’ lives.”


Congratulations to the Safe Kids Award Winners!

On May 22, Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County celebrated its accomplishments of the past year at its annual awards banquet held at Lakewood Baptist Church. 

Awards presented during the banquet included Community Agency of the Year, which was given to the Gainesville Police Department.  Karen Jackson of Gainesville High School and Carie Love of Sugar Hill Elementary were named Teacher of the Year.  Office Kevin Holbrook of the Gainesville Police Department received the Volunteer of the Year Award.


(L-R) Carie Love, Coalition Coordinator Kim Martin and Karen Jackson.
 


Volunteer of the Year: Officer Kevin Holbrook and Agency of the Year: the Gainesville Police Department



Water Watcher Cards Help Parents Actively Supervise Young Swimmers

Click to download your water watcher card !As pools open their doors around the country this Memorial Day, Safe Kids Worldwide is offering a tool to help parents keep kids safe in and around water this summer.

Drowning deaths among children ages 14 and under increase 89 percent in the summer over the average annual monthly rate, with 64 percent of all children’s drowning deaths occurring in the summer months.

Did you know that children can drown in as little as one inch of water?

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1 to 14.  Children can drown in a variety of circumstances – during water recreation (such as swimming and boating) or when a young child is left unsupervised for a short time in the bathtub or around the home with access to nearby pools and hot tubs.

A child can drown in as little as one inch of water, and drowning is usually quick and silent. A child will lose consciousness two minutes after submersion, with irreversible brain damage occurring within four to six minutes.

Parents and caregivers need to understand the dangers of drowning and know the proper steps to take to protect children.
 

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Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County Square Phone: 770-533-8095 Square Fax: 770-533-8124Square E-mail:kimberly.martin@nghs.com