FARMINGTON — Out of 314 state and local Safe Kids coalitions throughout the United States, Safe Kids Davis County was recently recognized as Coalition of the Year during the annual Safe Kids Worldwide Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. Teresa Smith, a health educator with the Davis County Health Department, accepted the award on behalf of the coalition.
"Every local Safe Kids coalition has saved countless lives through a variety of prevention efforts," Smith said. "To be singled out of such dedicated company is a huge vote of confidence in our work here in Davis County." Smith and co-worker Jeri Boren are co-coordinators for Safe Kids Davis County.
Lewis Garrett, director of the county's health department, said, "The award reflects the coalition's success this past year through injury prevention activities such as Child Passenger Safety, Safe Kids Week, the fifth annual Safe Kids Fest, the Green Ribbon Month Campaign, and its unique collaboration with the local youth coalition. I'm extremely proud of the ongoing efforts that our local coalition contributes to injury prevention awareness."
Martin R. Eichelberger, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide, presented the award on Oct. 20. "Our staff in Washington relies on the dedicated, passionate and inspiring people at the local level who take our injury prevention messages out into their own communities," he said. "The strength of Safe Kids is in our coalitions that deliver vital safety knowledge to parents and caregivers everywhere."
Safe Kids Davis County works to prevent accidental childhood injury — the leading killer of children 14 and under. The local coalition was founded in 1998 and is led by the Davis County Health Department. Coalition members include: Sunset Fire Department, Medical Alliance, Davis County Head Start, Davis School District/Transportation Department, Region 3 PTA, Clinton Police Department, Davis Hospital and Medical Center, Layton Fire Department, Clearfield Police Department, Utah Highway Patrol, Wee Care Pediatrics, 2nd District Juvenile Court, KIDGUARD, Layton Wal-Mart, Kaysville Police Department, South Davis Fire District, Farmington Police Department, Davis County Sheriff's Office, Davis County Youth Council, Layton Hills Mall, and Young Automotive Group.
For more information about Safe Kids Davis County and preventing accidental injury, call 451-3395 or visit the injury prevention Web pages at www.daviscountyutah.gov/health.