LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL)-- The Lowndes County Health Department, Valdosta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol are working together to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe when riding in a car. Through a Mini-Grant awarded by the 2013 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Office of Injury Prevention, some families are eligible for free car seats and booster seats for their children.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children when installed correctly. Since 2007, at least 229 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. Nearly three out of every four car seats are not installed correctly.
"It's our responsibility to keep our children safe," said Cynthia Sharper, car seat technician. "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 Lowndes County, the health department, police department and state patrol 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. These programs help families get their children buckled up right, every trip, every time.
For more information about the Lowndes County car seat program, contact Cynthia Sharper at 229-333-5257 or visit www.southhealthdistrict.com/lowndes.
