Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition Offers Child Safety Event for Families

 

The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition invites all parents and caregivers to attend the Child Safety Event on Saturday, September 20, 9 am ‑1 pm, at Poinciana Elementary School (1407 Kennedy Drive). To better serve families in the community, our Child Safety Events have expanded beyond car seat safety and now include free bicycle helmets as well as resources for other child safety needs.

Using a properly installed car seat can reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers in a car crash. During the event, certified child passenger safety technicians will be available to assist parents in properly installing children’s car seats, review previously installed seats, and answer child passenger safety questions.

Each car seat fitting appointment takes approximately 30 minutes and assistance is available on a first come, first served basis. Parents need to bring their children or know their exact current height, weight and age. New car seats will be available for Keys families as needed. In order to continue this program, a donation of $25 is requested for every new seat provided.

Wearing a helmet is the best way to reduce bicycle injuries. Most bike deaths are a result of head injuries and wearing a properly fitted helmet drastically reduces this risk. Certified bicycle helmet fitters will be available to measure children for new helmets as needed. These helmets are provided free of charge to any child age 1-16 but the child must be present to receive one.

Resources for other child-related safety concerns include safe sleep materials, poison control education, as well as water and hurricane safety information which will be provided to all families attending the event.

The Florida Keys Healthy Start Coalition helps families before, during and after pregnancy. The periodic child safety events are a free service offered as part of the Coalition’s Keys for Kids’ Safety program. For more information on the upcoming event or any of our other free programs, please contact 305-293-8424 or [email protected]. We believe every baby deserves a healthy start, as well as a safe future.

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