BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (June 1, 2023) — Safety experts at Children’s of Alabama will be able to continue sharing messages about safety with thousands of Alabama youth and adults, thanks to a recent grant award from the Honda USA Foundation. Through its traffic safety pillar, the Honda USA Foundation provides funding to support programs that ensure youth feel safe on and off the road. With support from this grant award, the state’s only freestanding pediatric hospital hopes to reach 3,000 children and adults.
“We are so grateful to the Honda USA Foundation for their continued support of our safety efforts,” said Marie Crew, director of the Health Education and Safety Center at Children’s of Alabama. “Our mission includes advocating for all children and these programs are central to that commitment.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in the United States. More than 7,000 children and teenagers died from unintentional injuries in 2019 (about 20 deaths daily). Children’s of Alabama is dedicated to preventing avoidable injuries and advocating for the well-being of children in the state.
The grant award will support safety programs conducted by the Health Education and Safety Center, including the ThinkFirst Alabama and Child Passenger Safety programs. ThinkFirst Alabama is an evidence-based curriculum taught in schools statewide. It uses age-appropriate concepts to convey the core message “Use your brain to protect your body.” Children learn more about helmet use, bicycle safety, pedestrian safety, concussion awareness and prevention and ATV safety. The Child Passenger Safety Program educates caregivers about choosing, installing and checking their child's appropriate car seat or booster seat. Thanks in part to support from the Honda USA Foundation, the program will provide car seats and booster seats to families who need them. This includes families discharged from Children’s of Alabama and families identified through community partners.
“By meeting children and families where they are with safety education and tools, we can keep Alabama children safe, well and hopefully out of the hospital,” said Crew. “Thank you, Honda USA Foundation!”
