Programs

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley is focusing specifically on four areas of safety for 2008.  Each area is considered a risk area in the Harrisonburg/Rockingham community.  Throughout the 2008 year our Safe Kids coalition will host and participate in different programs and fairs that target prevention for children under 14 on each of these four risk areas.

Bike Safety

Did you know that a child is 14 times more likely to survive a bike crash if he or she is wearing a helmet?  The majority of bicycle injuries occur on shorter streets, within a mile of the child's home.  However, the good news is that supervision, instruction and proper protective equipment including helmets can help prevent and reduce the severity of many of these injuries.

Our Safe Kids coalition will be hosting wheel safety fairs and bike rodeos during the summer in 2008.  There will be free helmets for those who do not have one and trained police officers guiding you through a bike rodeo.  For dates and times of our next rodeo contact Wanda Willis at 540-432-7717.

Poison Safety

Young children will and do eat and drink almost anything.  One hundred percent of childhood poisoning is preventable.  Safe Kids would like to remind you that as a parent it is your responsibility to keep medicines and household products out of reach of children at all times, and to have a working carbon monoxide detector in the home.  You can find facts and safety tips on the "Safety Information" link.
With a grant from the Virginia Department of Health and RMH Community Health, our coalition is also providing poison safety information in our Poison Prevention packets that are available for anyone's use.  These packets contain much needed education on poison prevention, magnets and stickers with the Blue Ridge Poison Center phone number, and a small parts tester to prevent children from choking.  Please call Cari Cook if you are interested, 540-433-4438.

Fire Safety

The best thing parents can do to prevent fire injury to their child is to have a working smoke detector on each floor of their home.  Many children tragically die in  their sleep as a result of smoke inhalation before they know there is a fire.  You can contact our lead agency, the Harrisonburg Fire Department at 540.432.7717 for information on smoke detectors and how to install them.  HFD will have their Fire Safety House at many of our Safe Kids events throughout the year.  It simulates what it would be like in a real fire and it gives children the chance to practice what they would do in case of a fire in their own home.

Child Passenger Safety

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley hosts several car seat check-ups throughout the year.  Nearly 80% of all child safety seats are installed incorrectly.  Harrisonburg now has a central contact person for car seat installations that can be made by appointment.  Contact Cathy Stewart 540-810-0527 to set up an appointment to have your seat professionally installed.
 

Other Programs

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley works closely with the Parenting Education and Support Program (PEAS) to help reduce accidental injuries in youth.

Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley also supports and works with the Parenting Education and Support Program (PEAS) and the Grand parenting Education and Support Program (GrandPEAS).  To register for PEAS and for information on the program contact RMH Healthsource at 540-433-4580.  Cost is 75$ for the 12-week program which includes childcare during class and meals. 

To register for GrandPEAS contact Millie Tirado at mtirado@rhcc.com or 540-564-7388.  GrandPEAS meets once a month for grandparents and other relatives raising children.  The cost is free and childcare and meals are provided.

GrandPEAS program is funded in part by a grant from the Brookdale Group Foundation