EMS & Injury Prevention System Branch

Safe Kids Hawai‘i is the state coalition led by Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children

Lisa Dau, RN, BSN – Injury Prevention Coordinator

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Preventable injuries are the number one killer of kids in the U.S.  According to Safe Kids Worldwide, 8,000 families lose a child every year because of a preventable injury. Hawai‘i State Department of Health data shows an average of 13 children die each year. For every death, 14 children are hospitalized and 740 are treated at emergency departments. Too many times a parent experiences the dreadful moment that their child has died from an injury. And too often when a parent asks “was there something I could have done to prevent this”, doctors are forced to say “yes”. This was the case for Dr. Marty Eichelberger. In 1988, Dr. Marty Eichelberger, a pediatric surgeon and Herta Feely, a public relations professional from Children’s Health System in Washington, DC founded Safe Kids Worldwide from the frustrations of seeing kids being killed from preventable injuries.

Safe Kids Worldwide is a global organization dedicated to preventing injuries in children around the world. The network of more than 400 coalitions in the U.S. and partners in 25 countries around the world are working to reduce injuries from car crashes, sports, drowning, falls, burns, poisoning and other injuries. The Safe Kids Worldwide staff work to support the efforts of coalitions with research, evidence-based programs, best practices, as well as guidance in advocacy, public relations and development.

Safe Kids Hawai‘i is the state coalition led by Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. As the lead agency for Safe Kids Hawai‘i, Kapi‘olani Medical Center will serve the community by helping to build a broad-based, structured community coalition with the mission to reduce childhood injuries through a multifaceted strategy of public awareness, education, public policy advocacy and community action in Hawai‘i. Lisa Dau, registered nurse, serves as the injury prevention coordinator for both Kapi‘olani and Safe Kids Hawai‘i. Resources (infographics, handouts, grant opportunities, branding) are available for agencies who are interested in the Safe Kids Worldwide model. For more information about Safe Kids Hawai‘i contact Lisa Dau at 983-6800 or by email, [email protected].

Sources:

• Safe Kids Worldwide. https://www.safekids.org/why-it-matters. 2015.
• Hawai‘i State Department of Health. https://health.hawaii.gov/injuryprevention. Oct, 2013.
• Safe Kids collaborates with the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition (KIPC) that covers all injuries to children and youth through age 18. Both KIPC and Safe Kids conduct joint quarterly meetings at KMCWC. For more information about KIPC, contact: Susan LaFountaine, [email protected]