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 road safety.

Programs of Mehr Sicherheit Für Kinder include:

• Parents’ Courses: SAFE KIDS – Child Safety for the Youngest

• “We Can Do It” Campaign

• “Dial Safety!” Hotline for Parents

• Internet Forum

• Child Safety Day

• Hazardous House

• Traveling Exhibition “Children in the House!?”

• Child Safety Action Plan

Highlights

Safe Kids Germany at the National Congress for Educators

From March 12 to 14, 2009, the most important national congress for kindergarten teachers and pedagogical experts took place in Osnabrück, Westphalia, hosted by the local university. The main topic of the congress was “Moving Kids.”

Mehr Sicherheit Für Kinder participated in the congress and presented an exhibition booth featuring games activities, and presentations and distributed activity kits based on the program “We Can Do It,“ a safety promotion initiative for kindergartens.

Child Safety Day 2009: Grow Up Safely – Protect Children from Poisonings

In June 2009, Safe Kids Germany held Child Safety Day at the Press and Information Office of the Federal Government (Berlin). The theme of the day was poisoning, particularly accidental poisoning affecting 1- to 6-year-old children.

The day featured safety measures and tips, including brochures, safety posters and fliers. Children participated in a painting competition, where they painted poisonous objects in everyday life and received awards for the best pictures.

Child Safety Day also launched a new exhibition called “Lernquadrat Achtung giftig!’” (Learning square careful poisonous). It contained many activities that taught children about poisonous substances in their home. The learning square also traveled to various local events to spread the messages conveyed during Child Safety Day.

National Conference: Child Injury Prevention – Goals, Strategies and Accomplishments in Germany

In November 2009, Safe Kids Germany hosted a national child safety conference in Bonn. The Ministry of Health assigned preparation and organization to the national Safe Kids headquarters. More than one hundred experts and key stakeholders attended the conference, which presented the results of child safety action planning in Germany.

A survey of the progress made since 2007 was also presented as a part of the governmental strategy. New data analysis systems and models of good practice showed how the main child safety players in Germany are dealing with the challenge to reduce injury by 20% within 5 years.