News You Can Use February 2012

Dear Supporter:

Kate Carr_President_and_CEO Did you know that in a two-year period, 22,000 children in the U.S. were injured by unstable furniture and appliances? This month's News You Can Use offers information on preventing furniture tip-overs. In addition, we're excited to announce new safety resources: the My Safe Home interactive website and the Start Safe program.

As always, we have news from across the country and around the world about the great work of Safe Kids coalitions and member countries.

Kate Carr
President and CEO
Safe Kids Worldwide

HOT TIPS THIS MONTH

Prevent Injuries From Furniture Tip-overs

Top-heavy furniture, TVs and appliances can tip over and seriously injure young children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, between 2008 and 2010, there were 22,000 injuries to children younger than 9. Anchoring furnishings to the wall isn't difficult or expensive. Learn how to prevent tip-over injuries in the home.

Explore My Safe Home

My Safe Home is an interactive website which helps families identify dangers in their home and provides simple steps to fix them. Using a 360-degree interactive technology, parents can explore all areas of a home or explore specific risks, like carbon monoxide poisoning. The safety information is available in both English and Spanish.

And while you are thinking about home safety, visit the MySafeHome website for a chance to win a carbon monoxide alarm, generously donated by Kidde.

Give Kids a Safe Start Around Fire and Water

The Start Safe program offers free resources to teach children about fire and water safety. These materials, which include games and activities, were created to meet the learning needs of young children and adults with low-literacy skills. Materials are available in both English and Spanish.

NEWS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD

Safe Kids In Your Community: Local Coalition Updates

Safe Kids South Carolina and its lead organization, the Children's Trust of South Carolina, awarded the trophies for its Mustaches for Kids fundraiser on February 9. During the four-week Growing Season, participants solicited donations from friends, family, co-workers, and people in the community.

Safe Kids Broward County (FL) and the Broward County Sheriff's Office sponsored Operation Medicine Cabinet and Shred-a-Thon on January 14 and encouraged local citizens to bring unused, unwanted, expired medications for safe disposal.

Safe Kids Gainesville/Hall County (GA) held a bike helmet distribution at the Run Road Atlanta Fun Run on Jan.21. Educational materials were distributed to approximately 250 families and 53 children ages 5-10 received free helmets.

Connect to Your Local Coalition

Find out if there is a Safe Kids Coalition in your community

Safe Kids Around The World: Safe Kids Vietnam

Safe Kids Vietnam/Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) joined the Safe Kids Worldwide network in 2002. Its mission is to provide life-saving traffic safety knowledge and skills to the developing world with the goal of preventing road traffic crash fatalities and injuries.

Safe Kids Vietnam's programs include school-based Helmets for Kids, Walk This Way, Safe Routes to School, Click on Safety and mass media public awareness education.

In 2008, the Vietnamese Ministry of Health reported which of the following as the second leading cause of accidental death in Vietnam?