13 counties in Southwest Health District awarded car seat grants

ALBANY — Several counties in the Southwest Health District, including Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas and Worth, have been awarded 2024 Car Seat Mini-Grants by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention program.

Through the mini-grant, the health district and collaborative partners work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in the district. 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.

And it works.

Since 2007, the education, car seats, and booster seats provided through the mini-grant prevented serious injury or death and saved more than 437 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71% among infants and by 54% among children ages 1-4 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,” Dr. Charles Ruis, director of the Southwest Health District, said. “The Car Seat Mini-Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our children from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.”

The Southwest Health District educates parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offers car seat inspections, and provides car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. Through the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies supporting more than 113 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 car seat program, contact a local health department. Contact information can be found at www.SWHealthDistrict.org. For information regarding other counties involved in the program, contact the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Child Occupant Safety Project via email at [email protected].

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