Safe Kids Pennsylvania – McKean County Partner’s Home Safety Program is still operating during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, in an effort to help local families who need childproofing and home safety items.
“Health and human services agencies, at-home visitors, Children and Youth Services, and early childhood programs are encouraged to make referrals for families to receive, at no charge, items that may include childproofing kits, plug covers, appliance locks, furniture wall straps, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, universal cable gun locks, as well as poison prevention materials and Mr. Yuk stickers,” according to CARE Development and Marketing Coordinator and Safe Kids Committee Member, Leslie Kallenborn. “Families may also contact our office directly.”
CARE for Children, as the lead agency for the Safe Kids McKean Partnership, can be contacted at 814-362-4621, reception@careforchildren.info, or visit www.careforchildren.info/child-safety/ for more information or to request items. During the ongoing pandemic, CARE will take the referral and arrangements will be made for item delivery or pick-up while practicing safe social distancing practices. CARE staff will follow-up with the referral source after 30 days to ensure the items are in use and that no additional items are needed.
“Child safety and injury prevention is just one of the many programmatic focus areas that the United Way funds with donor dollars,” said United Way of the Bradford Area Executive Director, Sarah Lonzi. “As our organization works to reach its $300,000 goal by January 31st, 2021, please consider a donation to the United Way of the Bradford Area to support important local programs.”
Preventable (accidental) injuries are the leading cause of death for children 19 and under and, according to statistics, every year 8,000 families in the United States lose a child because of preventable injury. Nearly 7.7 million children annually are treated for injuries in emergency departments, many of which could be prevented (Safe Kids Worldwide).
