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Volusia/Flagler SAFE KIDS Coalition
Formerly known as the Coalition for Child Safety & Injury Prevention, efforts of the Volusia/Flagler SAFE KIDS Coalition initially formed in 1995 (programs started in 1996) due to startling national statistics
that impacted local communities. Initial members joined due to the interest of an entity represented or a personal interest regarding child safety issues.
A top priority of the Coalition since its inception has been the provision of basic water safety instruction for economically disadvantaged children in an effort to reduce the number of drowning and near drowning
incidences. The Water Safety Program is comprised of three components to include the provision of basic swimming instruction, participation in an annual Beach Camp program and offering Junior Lifeguard
training courses.
While prevention activities are difficult to measure, providing bicycle safety education has also been in the forefront of child safety issues. The motivation to pursue all efforts to enhance bicycle related
activities may be stemmed by the alarming statistics that in 1998 Florida ranked number one nationwide per rate of fatalities and injuries related to bicycles or that medical research shows that 88 percent of brain
injury and 85 percent of head injury caused bicycle related injuries can be prevented by wearing a bicycle helmet.
Partnerships with numerous community agencies continue to grow and with the joining efforts of the Coalition and a Car Seat Safety Program team, as well as the opportunity to expand activities to address other
prevention activities, the effort to reduce unintentional injury among children continues to make successful strides locally.
For more information, please call 386-323-0000 or toll-free at 800-236-0785. An eligibility form for the Water Safety and Bicycle Safety
program can be found here.
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign web site is www.safekids.org
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