News and Facts: Member Highlights

Australia - Striving for Safety in 2005

From June 13 to 17, 2005, Kidsafe Western Australia held their sixth annual Safety in Schools Week. By forming partnerships with other organizations, government departments and businesses, the program aims to reduce the incidence of accidental injury through education in primary and district high schools. The events included activities on fire and burn safety, helmet use during sports activities, safe ways to cross roads, water safety, dog bite prevention, bicycle safety and playground fall prevention.

Austria - Safer Ski Slopes

Safe Kids Austria/Grosse Schuetzen Klein initiated the Styrian Certificate for Skiing Slopes in 1999. Since then, ski slopes (frequented by about 11 million skiers annually) have been made safer through the program's standards for signage. Signs must indicate level of difficulty and include information on weather and snow conditions, rescue service operations and other injury prevention measures.

The program recently expanded to the main skiing areas in the Salzburg province. The Styrian Certificate for Skiing Slopes also collects data on ski injuries, part of Safe Kids Austria 's comprehensive injury data collection program. That program helps Safe Kids Austria/Grosse Schuetzen Klein plan new programs and public awareness campaigns, especially related to smoke detector use, pool fencing and playground safety.

Brazil - National Burn Prevention Day

Safe Kids Brazil/Criança Segura has joined government efforts to address burn prevention nationwide. In June 2005, thousands of Safe Kids Brazil/Criança Segura educational materials were distributed to major hospitals, childcare centers, schools and public transportation.

Canada - Safe Kids Week 2005

The theme for Safe Kids Week 2005 was "Make It a Safe Kids Summer." This very successful campaign focused on healthy, active and safe living by exploring the four most popular summer activities for children: biking, swimming, walking and playground play.

Each summer, approximately 50 children die from and another 1,800 are seriously injured by these four activities. The good news is that implementing evidence-based safety strategies could prevent at least 40 percent of these injuries.

The media response to this campaign was overwhelming, resulting in front-page coverage and several high-profile editorials in Canadian newspapers.

China - Safe Kids Week

More than 51,000 parents and children in 18 cities participated in China's Safe Kids Week 2005, from May 29 to June 4. Safe Kids Week educated parents and children about preventing accidental injuries through a series of indoor and outdoor child safety activities, including on-site doctor consultations and interactive safety games. Programs focused on fall-related injuries, the third leading cause of accidental injury deaths in the country and the number one cause of nonfatal injuries among urban children. The event marked the seventh year that Safe Kids China has partnered with sponsor Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Germany - National Child Safety Day

Safe Kids Germany/Mehr Sicherheit Für Kinder launched its sixth annual National Child Safety Day on June 8 with the theme "Bounce and Balance: Promoting Motor Activity, Preventing Childhood Injury." Inadequate physical activity hinders the development of motor skills and makes a child more susceptible to injury. As a result, National Child Safety Day concentrated on specific motor activities in homes, schools and sports arenas that increase visual perception skills, coordination and reactions. Safe Kids Germany also announced the Primary School Contest for 8- to 10-year-olds. Children were asked to develop and film a performance (theater, dance or song) on the subject "motor activity and injuries." The contest's objective is to make teachers and students more aware of the subject, encourage teamwork and promote physical activity.

Israel - Safe Kids Buckle Up

The Safe Kids Buckle Up project began in 2003 with a three-year sponsorship agreement with General Motors. This program educates parents and caregivers about the importance of properly restraining children on every ride. It raises awareness about correct child safety seat use, helps spread the "buckle up" message through a network of health and community service providers, and offers education and child safety seat installation assistance to families.

Korea - Safe Kids Walk this Way

On April 13, 2005, the second annual Walk This Way pedestrian safety program was launched at Dae-dong Elementary School in Seoul with support from FedEx Express. Walk This Way reduced pedestrian-related injury and death by raising public awareness of child pedestrian safety and by educating children, parents and caregivers about child pedestrian safety.

New Zealand - Dishwasher Powder Poisonings Brought to the Forefront

In January 2005, Safe Kids New Zealand brought to light concerns about the increasing number of caustic poisonings to children from automatic dishwasher powders. Doctors at the country's national pediatric hospital, Starship Children's Health, initially raised concerns after the admission of five children in four months with severe caustic burns to their throats.

South Africa - Child Passenger Safety Project

Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of accidental child injuries in South Africa. Although motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians are the leading cause of death, the problem affects the entire South African population.

United Arab Emirates - Children's City

There is currently a toy car displaying the Safe Kids ME/UAE message at an activity gallery at Children's City in the Dubai Creek Park. Hundreds of parents and children visit the park every day, where they learn that buckling up prevents injuries and saves lives.

Uganda - National Road Safety Week 2004

From December 6 to 10, 2004, Safe Kids Uganda celebrated National Road Safety Week. The main celebrations took place at Ceternary Park where children entertained guests with song, drama, poetry and dance. Kawempe children marched throughout the city together with road safety advocates. Children also used craft supplies donated by Denver Metro Safekids Coalition. Bicycle helmets donated by Safe Kids Fargo Moorhead were given to children who ride their bikes to school everyday. The coalitions in Kawempe, Gulu and Mbale also distributed helmets.

United States - National Safe Kids Week 2005

Safe Kids Week, April 30-May 7, highlighted the importance of adult role modeling through the theme "Follow the Leader: Safety Starts with You." A national press conference involving Safe Kids, Founding Sponsor Johnson & Johnson and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona kicked off the week on April 29 in Washington, D.C.

Vietnam - Traffic Safety Education

Safe Kids Vietnam/Asia Injury  is developing a traffic safety education curriculum using posters, newsletters, TV programs and educational materials for parents, teachers and students. The program will expand to 300 primary schools and 450,000 kids around the country.