Proper Car Seat Installation: Car crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under. When correctly installed and used, child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71 percent. As many as 4 out of 5 child safety seats are used incorrectly, but Safe Kids offers car seat safety inspections on the first Friday of each month at the MCG Annex II on 15th Street, and on the second Wednesday of each month at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Substation, 650 Ronald Reagan Drive, Evans, to teach families and caregivers proper installation.

Wheeled Sports Safety: Head injuries are the leading cause of death and injury associated with wheeled sports and the most important determining factor in permanent disability. However, when worn correctly and consistently, helmets are very effective. Wearing a helmet during all wheel-related activities can reduce the risk of traumatic brain injury by as much as 88 percent. Helmets should be worn while skate-boarding, roller skating, roller-blading and riding scooters.

Buy a bike that fits correctly, and check it regularly to make sure it’s safe. Make sure drivers will be able to see you, and learn and follow the rules of the road. Children should bike only on sidewalks and paths until age 10, and adults should supervise riding until children know the rules of the road.

Water Safety: Drowning is the second leading cause of death in children under the age of 14 and the leading cause in children between 1 and 4 years old. Safe Kids recommends that children be enrolled in swimming lessons with a certified instructor, but don’t assume that swimming lessons make children "drown-proof." Children should never swim alone or without adult supervision. Children should always wear a personal flotation device when on boats, near open water and when taking part in water sports. Other ways to protect children around the water include learning how to perform CPR, keeping pool drains covered to avoid entrapment, and storing rescue equipment and emergency phone numbers nearby for fast access.

Pedestrian Safety: An estimated 25,000 children are injured in pedestrian accidents each year, and these injuries are frequently serious or deadly. Teach children to cross streets using crosswalks and signals; to cross with an adult when possible; to look both ways before and while crossing; and to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them. Also, be sure your kids wear reflective clothes, and remind them never to chase a ball or toy into the street.

Home Safety: Injuries, including burns, falls, poisonings and shootings, happen to more than 4.5 million children each year. Children should be taught to stay away from cooking areas in the kitchen, and to never play with matches or flammable materials. Also keep all medicines and potential poisons out of the reach of children and in locked cupboards. Guns in the house are discouraged, but if guns are there, they should be in locked and unreachable places. And never store them loaded. Teach kids to use ladders for climbing - but only with proper adult supervision - and never to stand in chairs or climb on objects not designed for climbing.

Safe Sitter: Safe Sitter is a program that teaches 11- to 13-year-olds how to handle emergencies while caring for younger children. Instructors provide students hands-on practice in basic lifesaving techniques so they are prepared to act in a crisis. Participants also learn to become confident caregivers by practicing safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door, and when and how to call for help. Information on child development, age-appropriate activities and the business aspects of babysitting are also provided. To successfully complete the Safe Sitter program, teens have to pass a rigorous practical and written test to show that they have mastered the key concepts and have the skills necessary to handle any emergency. Safe Sitter is taught about four times a year.

P.R.I.D.E. (Parents Reducing Incidents of Driver Error): Traffic crashes are the #1 killer of teens. On average, 200 Georgia teenagers lose their lives each year in traffic accidents. Georgia Teens Ride With P.R.I.D.E. is a national, award-winning two-hour free program that helps establish a dialogue between parents and new teen drivers (14-16) prior to the 40 hours of supervised practice driving time required by law. Rather than a technical hands-on driver training course, this program addresses driver attitude, knowledge and behavior of the parent and new teen driver as well as Georgia licensing laws. Safe Kids offers P.R.I.D.E. classes the third Tuesday of each odd numbered month at Wesley United Methodist Church, 825 North Belair Road, Evans.

For more information about Safe Kids East Central, led by the MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center and its programs, call 706-721-7606, or visit mcghealth.org.

MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state. For more information, please visit mcghealth.org.