Germany

Safe Kids Germany/Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder focuses on local projects as well as European-wide and international exchange and cooperation to increase public awareness of preventable childhood injuries. In 2001, Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide.

The organization works to put injury prevention on the National Health Agenda and in the minds of everyone. Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder developed a child safety action plan for Germany and started its implementation in 2007.

Mehr Sicherheit für Kinder has set the goal of reducing childhood injury by 20 percent by 2012 by organizing various preventive programs, campaigns and exhibitions on risk areas such as drowning, home safety and product safety.

Highlights:

Poisoning prevention for migrant families

In Germany, children with a migratory background are a growing population group. Based on scientific data, their health status is worse than those of native German children. Safe Kids Germany’s new program, “Poisoning prevention for migrant families,” aims to reach migrant families and improve safety for all children living in Germany. During the project, Safe Kids Germany will develop, practice and evaluate cultural sensitive measures that focus on reducing poisonings.

Among initiatives will be print material as well as educational courses about domestic poisoning risks for mothers. Well qualified and ethnically diverse instructors will be recruited for the courses. The two year program started on April 1st with a needs assessment, collection of scientific information and expertise and development of an evaluation process.

This year, Safe Kids Germany will develop the educational materials, which then will be tested and evaluated in two pilot courses in Bonn and Berlin. All materials will be provided for instructors, parents and children. The second year will consist of more courses in Bonn and Berlin, a seminar for journalists, and a public relations event with the Ministry of Environment.

Child Safety Day in Germany – “Running. Climbing. Jumping. Sure You Can!”

To prevent falls among children ages 0-5 years, Safe Kids Germany started the first national fall campaign with the motto: “Running. Climbing. Jumping. Sure You Can!”  The goal of the campaign was to prevent severe injuries caused by falls.  The campaign was launched on June 9 in combination with the National Child Safety Day hosted by Safe Kids Germany in Berlin. 

In preparation of the launch, Safe Kids Germany developed a manual and fact sheets including games and ideas for children ages 2-5 in kindergartens.  These materials were shared with classrooms and used as tools during a contest asking kindergartens to submit their ideas and projects for fall prevention. The award winners were presented to the media during an award ceremony that took place at the winning kindergarten in Potsdam, Germany; a TV channel, “TV Potsdam,” covered the ceremony. The kindergarten was presented with a certificate and 500 EURO.

A press conference was held with the Federal Health Minister and Safe Kids Germany staff.  The press conference was accompanied by a children’s activity and game show. Several TV channels and broadcast stations were present and covered the event in the media.  Martina Abel, Managing Director of Safe Kids Germany, was invited to make a live appearance on the ARD-Morning Magazine, the leading German morning TV show reaching three million viewers. 

The campaign poster, other campaign materials and more information can be found on the campaign website (only in German).