COLUMBUS — Eleven county health departments in the West Central Health District were awarded the 2018 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program. Through the Mini-Grant, health departments provide car seats and education to financially eligible families, and often enlist the help of other agencies in the community. The following counties in the West Central Health District received the Mini-Grant: Chattahoochee, Crisp, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Taylor and Webster. This program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles.
Since 2007, car seats and booster seats provided through the mini grant program prevented serious injury or death and saved 344 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes. 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. Unfortunately, nearly three out of every four car seats are not used properly, placing children at unnecessary risk.
“We’re excited that this grant allows us to work with other community agencies throughout our district to keep children safe,” said Karon Bush, Program manager of the West Central Health District. “Children in these 11 counties will be safer riding in motor vehicles, and if they are involved in a motor vehicle accident.”
County health departments work with community partners to 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. These programs help families get their children buckled up right, every trip, every time.
Contact information for the county health departments participating in the car seat distribution is available at  www.westcentralhealthdistrict.com.