Brazil

Safe Kids Brazil/Criança Segura launched its first campaign and also became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide in 2001.

Headquartered in São Paulo, the not-for-profit organization has coalitions across Brazil. Since its inception Criança Segura has partnered with various stakeholders, such as schools, communities, corporations and governments, to advance safety and reduce the burden of injuries to Brazil’s children.

Criança Segura focuses on specific risk areas, including burn prevention, drowning, motor vehicle and pedestrian safety.

Programs of Safe Kids Brazil/Criança Segura include:

• CRIANÇA SEGURA at School
• Pedestrian Program
• Cares Against Burnings Campaign
• Child Passenger Safety Program
• National Traffic Week

Highlights

CRIANÇA SEGURA at School

Criança Segura hosted Safe Kids at School programs in six cities in 2008. The program works to cultivate a culture focused on preventing injury through the schools to reduce the number of child deaths and hospitalizations caused by accidents.

The program targets children ages 1 to 10 years, as well as parents and educators, and provides injury prevention classes in school settings. In addition, Criança Segura distributes books on injury prevention to students, parents, and educators; helps develop educational tools; and conducts injury prevention training for teachers and injury prevention lectures for parents.

From 2001 to 2008, the program reached 119,000 children and 83,300 parents and trained 3,970 teachers. Criança Segura has also built a partnership with local public departments of education to expand Safe Kids at School programs to local public schools.

The national coalition published Education for Prevention: Innovative Practices in the Classroom, a book that summarizes research carried out by Criança Segura in cooperation with the Trauma League of the Federal University of São Paulo.

CRIANÇA SEGURA Pedestrian Program

Safe Kids Brazil’s pedestrian safety program brings together local community organizations and government agencies in an effort to promote public awareness and create a safer environment for children.

The program aims to teach pedestrian safety to children, distribute educational materials, and host pedestrian activities involving local communities, schools, organizations and government. All members are encouraged to incorporate artistic tools, from photos and exhibits to graffiti, to educate children and adolescents.

From 2002 to 2008, the program has reached 19,000 children and 500 educators.

CRIANÇA SEGURA Week

Each year Safe Kids Brazil hosts CRIANÇA SEGURA Week to promote child unintentional injury prevention in Brazil. In 2008, Safe Kids Brazil conducted research about parental behavior and attitudes. During the national week, Safe Kids Brazil distributed a new brochure, hosted an event, and implemented a training program in six cities around Brazil.