HICKORY, NC – April 21, 2015 – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC), the lead agency for Safe
Kids Catawba County, announced today the honor of receiving the 2015 North
Carolina Safe Kids Program of the Year Award in recognition of its successful
child passenger safety outreach. Presented by representatives from NC
Child Protective Services Training Program and the NC Governor’s
Highway Safety Program, Safe Kids Catawba County was praised specifically
for a car seat check event hosted during the 2014 Catawba County Christmas
Bureau’s gift distribution at the Hickory American Legion Fairgrounds.
“The Christmas Bureau event helps over 1,300 families and we saw
this venue as an excellent opportunity to check the safety of car seats
and promote safety for the area’s smallest passengers,” said
Kayla Hefner, Safe Kids Catawba County Coordinator/CVMC Child Health and
Safety Specialist. “In just two days, trained safety technicians
inspected the proper use of 344 child safety seats and educated families
about ways to ensure passenger safety for children.”
The Safe Kids coalition combines the efforts of various community agencies
and individuals sharing the mission of creating safer homes and communities
for children through public awareness, education and community action.
The organization has reduced the number of accidental injuries in children
by 53% between 1987 and 2009.
For more information about Safe Kids Catawba County, contact Kayla Hefner
at the CVMC Health First Center – 828.485.2300 (x6204) or
kshefner@catawbavalleymc.org.