Athens, Ga. (May 2, 2025) -- Piedmont Athens Regional and Safe Kids Athens are proud to celebrate Safe Kids Month 2025, a month dedicated to raising awareness and promoting child safety across the nation. This annual observance, held throughout the month of May, focuses on the importance of protecting children from preventable injuries.
Safe Kids Athens is led by Piedmont Athens Regional Community Education Nurse April Dorsett, who facilitates evidence-based programs, such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops, and sports clinics that help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.
“We believe that every child should have the opportunity to grow up safe and healthy,” said Dorsett. “Safe Kids Month is a vital part of our mission to educate and empower families to take proactive steps in preventing injuries and accidents.”
Statistics on Child Safety:
Road Safety: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. In 2023, over 1,000 children aged 14 and younger died in traffic accidents.
Home Safety: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for children. In 2023, approximately 2.8 million children visited emergency departments due to fall-related injuries.
Drowning Prevention: Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death for children aged 1-4. The CDC states that in 2023, nearly 1,000 children died from drowning incidents.
Car Seat Safety: Proper use of car seats can reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. However, the NHTSA found that nearly 46% of car seats are misused, compromising their effectiveness.
Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death of children in the U.S. Safe Kids provides education on areas such as road safety, home safety, safe sleep practices, drowning prevention, and car seat safety, through workshops or individual sessions. Families and caregivers are provided with the tools they need to create safe environments for children.
If you are interested in learning more about Safe Kids Athens and the programs offered, please contact April Dorsett, RN, at april.dorsett@piedmont.org or call 706-475-5631.