To promote the prevention of childhood injuries in Chester County through education, collaboration and advocacy.

How do we fulfill our mission?

• We sponsor effective injury reduction activities targeted to needs across the County.
• We promote awareness and education among child injury prevention advocates.
• We support public policies and programs that reduce injuries among children and youth.
• We provide safety education to children and youth in the major risk areas of traffic safety, water safety, fire safety, poisoning and falls prevention.

How do we operate?

Safe Kids Chester County has no operating budget. We rely solely on donations of time and money from area businesses and dedicated citizens in Chester County. If you would like to make a donation, please contact us at 610-363-8701.

How can you get involved?

1. Join our coalition! We meet six times a year.
2. Volunteer your time.
3. Donate money to help fund our organization.

Contact Safe Kids Chester County at 610-363-8701
or by mail c/o The COAD Group, 930 E. Lancaster Avenue, Exton, PA 19341.

Some Information, Resources and Activities to Help Keep Our Kids Safe

1. Child Passenger Safety
2. Bike
3. Pedestrian
4. Fire

Child Passenger Safety

THE SEAT BELT LAW
Pennsylvania's Occupant Protection Laws
Restraint Systems: Section 4581 A(1), (1.1), (2), (3)

(1) All drivers are responsible to secure children from birth to age four in an approved child passenger restraint system. The fine is waived if driver shows proof of a car seat. (primary law)

(1.1) All drivers are responsible to secure children four years of age or older but under eight years of age in a seat belt system and an approved child booster seat. The fine is waived if driver shows proof of a car seat. (secondary law)

(2) All drivers are responsible to secure children eight years of age or older but under eighteen years of age anywhere in the vehicle in a seat belt system. Drivers and front seat occupants are required to wear a property adjusted and fastened safety seat belt. (secondary law)

(3) Drivers under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of seat belts. (primary law) Offense: Failure to comply with the provisions in (1) or (1.1) shall be guilty of a summary offense with a maximum fine of $100. Failure to comply with provisions in (2) and (3) shall be guilty of a summary offense with a fine of $10.

Car Seat Installation Information: Download the NHTSA PDF File

Car Seat Checks available by trained technicians. The car seat check referral list can be obtained by clicking on this PDF file.

Community Checks are ongoing throughout the county – see Upcoming Events to find out about the possibility of an upcoming check in your area.

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Bike: A Complete Guide to Bike Rodeos

Available to organizations that would like to plan a community event to include these bike safety activities. Contact our office to pick up a copy of that resource.

How to Properly fit a Helmet

• Adjust the Side Straps. Sit it squarely, on top of the head. Two finger widths above your eyebrows.
• Wear it Low on your Forehead. The helmet should have two straps joined with a "tri-glide" to form a "V". The front and rear strap of each V should be snug when a tri-glide is positioned just below the earlobe.
• Tighten Buckle Strap. The buckle strap should fit snug beneath the chin Only 1 adult finger should be able to fit between the clip and the chin.
• Snug on the Head. Make sure the helmet cannot move from side to side or up and down.
• Adjust the pads. Size your helmet to your head using the right combinations of foam sizing pads.
• **Double-Check the Fit. When securely fit, your eyebrows should move up and down or side to side with the movement of the helmet. If you see this, you know your helmet is a good fit!

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Pedestrian

Quick Facts

• Children ages 5 to 9 are at the greatest risk from traffic-related pedestrian death and injury.
• Pedestrian injuries are the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages
  5 to 14.

Prevention Tips

• Never allow children under age 10 to cross streets alone.
• Instruct children to look left-right-left again when crossing a street and to continue looking as they cross.
• Teach children to walk facing traffic, as far to the left as possible, when sidewalks are not available.
• Require children to wear retro-reflective materials and carry a flashlight at dawn and dusk.
• Prohibit play in driveways, in unfenced yards, in streets or parking lots.
• Always model and teach proper pedestrian behavior.
• Teach children to obey traffic signs and signals.
• Always cross at crosswalks or intersections

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Fire Safety

Quick Facts:

• Fires and burns are the third-leading cause of unintentional
  injury-related death among children ages 14 and under.
• Smoke alarms are extremely effective at preventing fire-related death and injury. The chances of dying in a residential fire are cut in half when a smoke alarm is present.

Who Is At Risk?

• Children ages 5 and under are more than twice as likely to
  die in a fire than the rest of the population.
• Male children have a higher risk of fire-related death and injury than female children.

Prevention Tips

• Keep matches, gasoline, lighters and all other flammable materials locked away and out of children's reach
• Install smoke alarms in your home on every level and in every sleeping area. Test them once a month, replace the batteries at least twice a year, and replace the alarms every ten years
• Plan and practice several fire escape routes from each room of the home and identify an outside meeting place. Practicing an escape plan may help children who become frightened and confused in a fire escape to safety.

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