Safe Kids Riley County Coalition
At a time of year when unintentional injuries typically rise, Safe Kids Riley County Coalition is celebrating Safe Kids Month by providing activities, tips, and resources to educate parents and caregivers about how to keep their kids safe from preventable injuries.
Summer is an exciting season for families, often bringing vacations, barbecues, picnics, and time away from work and school. Yet summer is also known as “trauma season” among health professionals in the United States because unintentional injuries and deaths increase dramatically among children. In fact, 41 percent of all deaths from unintentional injuries occur during the months of May through August.
One of the most important ways Riley County Safe Kids Coalition helps keep kids safe is by providing the ongoing Car Seat Check Lane. People can visit the Manhattan Fire Department (MFD) Headquarters at 2000 Denison Avenue every Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. to get their car seat checked for proper installation. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will educate people how to select the appropriate car seat type for their child’s age, height, and weight as well as on how to properly install the car seat.
Families are encouraged to bring their child’s car seat and take advantage of this free service.
“Car seats save lives, but they must be used correctly to be effective. Our goal is to educate families and provide them with the knowledge they need to keep their children safe on the road,” said Sarah Haybarker, Riley County Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator.
The Car Seat Check Lane is a designated Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office (KTSRO) inspection station. For more information about the Car Seat Check Lane or to learn more about child passenger safety, please contact Riley County Health Department at 785-776-4779 ext. 7605
In addition, the Riley County Health Department (RCHD) is offering a special safety Storytime at the Manhattan Public Library, 629 Poyntz Ave., May 13th at 10:00am. RCHD will also share family safety tips on their Facebook page @rileycountyhealthdepartment throughout the month of May.
“Taking a little time to focus on safety can make a big difference for our children,” said Haybarker.
