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Published Monday, February 06, 2012 in Close-Up

Mini-grant helps child car seat coalition

From Staff Reports

closeup@newnan.com

The Coweta County Health Department has received the 2012 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Program - Office of Injury Prevention.

Through the mini-grant, The Coweta County Health Department, the Coweta County Sheriff's Department and the Coweta County Car Seat Coalition work together to provide free car seats and education to financially eligible families in Coweta County. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the Maternal and Child Health Program fund this grant to help ensure that Georgia's children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.

Since 2007, at least 180 children in Georgia who were involved in crashes were saved from serious injury or death by car seats, booster seats, and education provided through the Mini-Grant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars. Car seats offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash, and they are most effective when installed and used correctly. Nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.

"It's our responsibility to keep our children safe," said Lisa Sewell, volunteer. "The Car Seat Mini-Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our kids from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes."

In Coweta County, the Coweta County Car Seat Coalition and the Coweta Sheriff's Office educate parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offer car seat inspections and provide car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. Through the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies supporting more than 140 counties are working to keep Georgia's children safe.

For more information about the Coweta County car seat program and its classes, contact Coweta County Health Department a 770-254-7400, extension 1.

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