Bicycle Safety Mini-Grant

The Pennsylvania Department of Health, through Safe Kids Pennsylvania, will make available mini-grants ranging from $1,000 - $5,000 to any organization throughout the state during 2008-2009, for projects designed to increase bicycle safety and reduce bicycle-related injuries.  The primary target audience will be children and youth ages 5-18 with a secondary focus on adults. 

Please visit the Available Grants page for more details including the mini-grant guidelines and application.

Safe Kids Mini-Grants Available

The 2008-2009 Safe Kids Mini-Grant applications are available to Safe Kids Chapters / Coalitions now through June 19, 2008. 

Please visit our Available Grants page for more information including the applications and Mini-Grant guidelines.

Seasonal Safety
Gear Up and Warm Up for Spring Sports Safety

Each year, nationwide, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and under are treated for sports injuries. Roughly half of these injuries are sustained in solo activities - especially biking, skating and skateboarding - but approximately one out of four participants in youth soccer, football or baseball has been injured at least once. About 15 percent of kids playing basketball have been injured, and 12 percent of kids playing softball.

In team sports, most injuries - 62 percent - occur during practices, not games. "Always insist that your kids wear the same protective gear, do the same warmups and take all the same precautions when they practice as when they're getting ready for a game,” says Chrissy Cianflone, director of program operations at Safe Kids Worldwide.

“When we think of sports injuries, we think of dramatic tackles or falls or being hit in the head, but young athletes are also at risk of strains and repetitive-motion injuries,” says Cianflone. “If your coach recommends certain types of warmups, it's not just to make you a better athlete — it will help keep you from getting hurt.” Repetitive-motion injuries account for nearly half of all sports injuries to students in grade 6 and above.

In a 2000 survey by Safe Kids Worldwide, 30 percent of parents said their child had been injure d at least once while playing a team sport, 15 percent said their child had been injured more than once and about 7 percent said their child suffered a serious injury. “Contact sports have a higher rate of injuries than solo sports, but injuries from solo sports such as biking or skateboarding tend to be more severe,” says Cianflone.

Safe Kids USA recommends these precautions for all children playing or practicing any individual or team sport:

• Before signing up for a sport, get a general physical exam.
• Always wear appropriate protective gear for the activity — for practice as well as games — and make sure it's the right size and properly adjusted.
• Do your warmups. Again, if it's important before a game, it's important before practice too.
• Make sure responsible adults know and enforce the safety rules of the sport, are present to provide supervision, and are trained in first aid and CPR. Also, make sure the field is in safe condition.
• Never “play through” an injury. Get immediate help from a coach or trainer and be sure to mention everything that hurts or aches.
• Follow the rules. In most sports, the rules are based not only on sportsmanship, but safety.

Last but not least: “Stay hydrated,” says Cianflone. “Drink plenty of water or electrolyte sports drink before and during the activity, and rest frequently during hot weather. A child can lose up to a quart of sweat during two hours of exercise, and kids get overheated more quickly than adults and cannot cool down as easily.”

Safe Kids Pennsylvania Director Anne Franchak Awarded Outstanding State Coordinator of the Year

The Center for Schools and Communties is proud to announce that Anne Franchak, Director of Safe Kids Pennsylvania, was recognized as the "Outstanding State Coordinator of the Year" at this year's Safe Kids Worldwide Conference in Washington, DC.

The award was presented to Anne at the Safe Kids Worldwide Awards Dinner on October 18, 2007 where they described how her efforts have continually supported the safety of Pennsylvania children. Marty Eichelberger, CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide shared a few of the reasons Anne was chosen for this honor. "Anne's efforts have increased support for the Pennsylvania coalitions, including providing over $100,000 in grant funding to coalitions and chapters for bicycle helmets, smoke alarms and fall prevention programs.  She also hosted six online trainings focusing on fire safety, car passenger safety, back to school, and animal bite safety.  Anne continues to advance the cause of injury prevention by participating in statewide events such as the annual Pennsylvania Farm show, facilitating sessions at the Multiple Cultures Multiple Voices conference, co-hosting an injury prevention conference, and hosting a bike helmet booth at a skating rink."