The Liberty County Health Department has won a grant from the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health to distribute automobile child restraints and educational information to eligible parents.
The program is a collaborative effort with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety that strives to prevent fatalities on Georgia's roads.
"If a child under the age of 8 is not properly secured in an appropriate child restraint the risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash more than doubles for that child," said Annie Washington, clinical coordinator at the Liberty County Health Department.
Motor vehicle-related accidents are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 1 in the country and in Georgia. Lack of appropriate restraints, such as booster seats and safety belts contribute significantly to this problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child restraints reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than a year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1-4 years old) in cars.
As part of the program, local agencies provide technical assistance and educational materials to parents. Materials include child restraints to parents who meet financial eligibility.
For more information, contact Linda Ratcliffe at 876-2173 ext 236 or via lfratcliffe@dhr.state.ga.us
The program is a collaborative effort with the Governor's Office of Highway Safety that strives to prevent fatalities on Georgia's roads.
"If a child under the age of 8 is not properly secured in an appropriate child restraint the risk of dying in a motor vehicle crash more than doubles for that child," said Annie Washington, clinical coordinator at the Liberty County Health Department.
Motor vehicle-related accidents are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 1 in the country and in Georgia. Lack of appropriate restraints, such as booster seats and safety belts contribute significantly to this problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, child restraints reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (less than a year old) and by 54 percent for toddlers (1-4 years old) in cars.
As part of the program, local agencies provide technical assistance and educational materials to parents. Materials include child restraints to parents who meet financial eligibility.
For more information, contact Linda Ratcliffe at 876-2173 ext 236 or via lfratcliffe@dhr.state.ga.us