NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
January 10, 2022 Crystal Sherrer
706-595-3112
Crystal.partnersforsucces@gmail.com
McDuffie County Partners for Success Awarded Car Seat Mini Grant
Buckle Up Right, Every Trip, Every Time
Thomson, Ga –McDuffie County Partners for Success was awarded the 2022 Car Seat Mini-Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Injury Prevention Program. Through the Mini-Grant, McDuffie County Partners for Success and McDuffie County Fire Department and EMS work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in McDuffie County. 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 over 425 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. 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 Crystal Sherrer. “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.”
In McDuffie County, McDuffie County Partners for Success and McDuffie County Fire and EMS educate(s) parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offer(s) car seat inspections and provide(s) car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families. Through the Car Seat Mini-Grant, agencies supporting more than 120 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 McDuffie County car seat program, contact McDuffie County Partners for Success at (706) 595-3112 or put local website address here). If you would like information regarding other counties involved in the program, please contact the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Child Occupant Safety Project via email at injury@dph.ga.gov or by calling 404-463-1487.