Coconino County Injury Prevention

Every year, unintentional injuries kill and disable more children than all other childhood diseases combined. Our goal is to reduce unintentional childhood injury.

This is done through child seat safety education and instruction, organizing SAFE KIDS events,and promoting the use of bicycle helmets.

Did You Know?

• Young children can drown in less than one inch of water in seconds.
• Some children are needlessly burned because they believe clothes protect them from flames.
• Drinking mouthwash can cause a young child to fall into an alcohol coma.
• A child can fall out of a window that is opened only 5 inches.
• In a car crash at 30 mph, an unbelted child would hit the dashboard with as much force as a fall from a 3-story building.

Unintentional injuries like these are the leading cause of death facing American children today. We call them “accidents", but most childhood injuries can be predicted and prevented. Injury prevention is not difficult.  And, it doesn’t cost a lot or require much time.

Infants should ride rear-facing as long as possible, at a minimum of 1 year old and at least 20 pounds.

Facing the rear protects the child’s neck and spinal cord from violent crash forces.

Use harness straps in harness slots that are at or slightly below shoulder level.

Recline the car seat so your child’s head rests flat against the shell.

Keep harness straps snug and flat, with the chest clip at armpit level.

Kids over 1 year and who weigh more than 20 pounds should ride in forward facing car seats (if they can no longer ride rear facing).

Place harness straps in reinforced slots that are at or above shoulder level.

Place car seat in upright position.

Keep harness straps snug and flat, with chest clip at armpit level.

Kids over 40 pounds must use a booster or other appropriate child restraints* until adult safety belts fit correctly (around age 8)     *safety seats rated for children over 40 pounds and certified to meet all motor vehicle standards.

Using a booster seat helps the vehicle lap and shoulder belts fit a child’s body.

Use both lap and shoulder belts when using booster seats.

Position the lap belt snugly over the hips and the shoulder belt snugly across the chest and shoulder.