injury prevention
Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability to children in the United States. Dayton Children’s is dedicated to preventing childhood injury in our region. Dayton Children’s Center for Community Health and Advocacy recognizes the power of partnership to keep kids in our community safe. We work within our community to reduce instances of injury in the following ways:
- Educate the community about child safety, injury risks and prevention
- Focus on injury risk areas that affect our region, and develop effective means to increase safety practices
- Facilitate sustainable partnerships for injury prevention in our region
Signature injury prevention programs that address the leading causes of injury to children in our community include:
safe kids greater dayton
One way we reach out into the community is by leading the local Safe Kids Greater Dayton coalition. Safe Kids Greater Dayton is one of more than 300 state and local coalitions formed as part of Safe Kids Worldwide [1]. Safe Kids Worldwide is the first national organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury. The campaign was launched in 1988 to address what was then a little recognized problem: More children younger than age 14 were being killed by what people call "accidents" (motor vehicle crashes, fires and other injuries) than by any other cause.
The goal of Safe Kids Greater Dayton is to serve in a leadership role in the education of parents/care givers, children, educators, health care providers, public and private organizations, legislators and the community about the impact of childhood injuries. The Coalition covers seven counties including Butler, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Warren.
Through community events and injury prevention programs, Safe Kids Greater Dayton plays an active role in engaging children and adults in safety education.
To learn more visit safekids.org [2]
To learn more about Safe Kids Greater Dayton or to become a new member contact Abbey Pettiford at pettiforda@childrensdayton.org [3] or at 937-641-5853.
stay ahead of the game – bicycle helmets
A leading cause of death for children is head trauma from accidents where a helmet was not worn. Through the Stay Ahead of the Game program, Dayton Children's and Safe Kids Greater Dayton make helmets and, more importantly, education available to children before they have an accident.
The Stay Ahead of the Game program provides organizations who promote bicycle safety in our 20-county service area up to 25 free helmets to be distributed and fitted during bicycle rodeos and other education-based events.
This program would not be possible without the generous support of our funders.
To request helmets please use our helmet request form [4] at least 4 weeks prior to a scheduled event.
car seat safety program
Child safety seats are as important as your child's immunizations in protecting his or her life and health. Did you know that the greatest danger to children older than age one is car accidents? Fortunately, serious injuries and deaths can be prevented simply by using a child safety seat or restraint that is appropriate for your child's age, height and weight.
Dayton Children’s conducts monthly car seat checks by appointment as well as car seat checks in the community throughout the year to help you keep your child riding safely.
During a car seat inspection, your car seat will be checked for recalls. Then the technician will work with you to make sure your car seat is properly installed in your vehicle. Most car seat checks take 30 to 45 minutes.
If you are expecting a child, we will be happy to help you install your seat and answer any questions you have before your child's arrival.
Visit our events calendar [5] to find the next car seat check near you.
For more information or to schedule an appointment contact us at 937-641-3700.
Ohio Buckles Buckeyes
The Ohio Department of Health’s child passenger safety (CPS) program, Ohio Buckles Buckeyes (OBB), provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low income families in all Ohio counties. Dayton Children’s manages this region for the OBB program.
Requirements for the OBB Program
In order to receive an OBB seat, families who are income-eligible* must attend an educational class provided by trained local CPS staff. In this session, the parent/caregiver(s) receives important education on how to properly use the car seat for their child, and they are instructed on how to correctly install the car seat in their vehicle.
*income must be within WIC guidelines although recipient does not need to be enrolled in WIC
Occupant Protection Regional Coordinator – Alexa Wene at 937-641-5763 or wenea1@childrensdayton.org [6].
For more information about child passenger safety you can visit: https://www.odh.ohio.gov [7].
OBB Program Coordinators
Allen County-Mike Smith 419-222-2986
Auglaize County-Caitlin Decker 419-738-3410
Champaign County-Tyler Wolf 937-408-8695
Clark County-Jamie Fox/Brandi Murphy 937-322-4939
Darke County-Brian Phillips 937-548-9339
Greene County-Jean Ritchie 937-528-6301
Hardin County-Kelsey Ralston 419-673-6230
Logan County-vacant
Mercer County-Julie Shaffer 419-586-3251 ext.1279
Miami County-Heidi Jones 937-607-9082
Montgomery County-Adam Gaby 937-277-4823
Preble County-Scott Wilford 937-472-0087 ext. 217
Shelby County-Tia Toner 937-498-1145
Van Wert County-Nikki Greve 419-238-6747
cribs for kids
Unsafe sleep practices remain a leading cause of death to infants younger than 1 year of age. In Ohio, about 15 percent of infant deaths are caused by sleep-related incidents.
One key component of addressing unsafe sleep practices is to ensure infants have a safe place to sleep. Dayton Children’s partners with Cribs for Kids to provide portable cribs to families in our community.
Cribs for Kids® [8] is a National Infant Safe Sleep Program administered through Sudden Infant Death Syndrome of Pennsylvania (SIDSPA). Through their research, SIDSPA has found that babies who sleep in unsafe sleep environments, including adult beds, are at 40 times greater risk of dying from SIDS. Cribs for Kids® has been identified as a key factor in reducing the rate of infant deaths due to SIDS and accidental suffocation. The safe sleep education program will help reduce the risk of injury and death of infants due to unsafe sleep environments. Cribs for Kids® has been providing safe sleep education with the intervention of a portable crib, to families who cannot otherwise afford a safe place for their babies to sleep since 1998.
how our program works
This program is open to all families with an emergent need for a safe place for their baby to sleep.
Eligibility requirements are:
- A mother must be in the final month of pregnancy
- The family/caregiver must receive education on safe sleep and proper use of pack n play, and
- The family/caregiver must meet WIC income eligibility guidelines
Referrals and appointments can be made by calling 937-641-3700.