| The goal of the Florida Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition,
sponsored by All Children's Hospital, is to fight the unintentional injury of
children. Unintentional injury remains the leading cause of death among children
in the United States. In 2000, 5,686 children 14 years and under died of
unintentional injuries. In addition, almost 120,000 children are permanently
disabled annually. One out of four children, or more than 14 million children
younger than 14, sustain injuries that are serious enough to require medical
attention yearly. These injuries pose financial, emotional and social effects
for not only child and family but also the community and society as a whole.
The Florida Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. It is one of more than 300 local and state coalitions and chapters within the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Since its inception, the Suncoast SAFE KIDS Coalition has grown to more than 250 members representing more the 100 organizations in Pinellas, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The Coalition consists of child advocates from every sector of the community: education, law enforcement, fire/rescue, private industry, public health, health care, social services, parents and volunteer service groups. The Coalition addresses the greatest injury risk areas for children 0 - 14 years: motor vehicle injury, bicycle and pedestrian injury, drowning, and other injuries in the home, school and community. SAFE KIDS members are dedicated to the Campaign goals that include: • Raising awareness that injuries are the leading health threat facing children today; • Building a long-term grassroots coalition to implement childhood injury prevention strategies; • Stimulating changes in child and adult behavior, products
and the environment to reduce the • Making childhood injury a public policy priority for federal, state and local policy makers; • Focusing attention and designing injury prevention
strategies for children of families who are at Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue is an active member in the
Safe Kid’s Coalition. Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the
month at 9:00 am. These meetings are hosted by the different organizations at
different locations within Manatee County. Fore more information, you can contact
Inspector Diane Chrzanowski, Chairperson at 941-727-2075 or Jean Shoemaker, SAFE
KIDS Coordinator at All Children Hospital
You can visit the All Children’s Hospital Web site at http://www.allkids.org
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