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September 18, 2024 - Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Boston (Boston Children's)
The Green Cross for Safety® awards, Safety Advocate Award, sponsored by First Student
The Safe Play Starts Here van, a joint effort by Boston Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Program and Fundación MAPFRE, focuses on reducing childhood injuries through education, outreach and advocacy. With unintentional injuries being the leading cause of childhood death in the U.S., the program promotes proper car seat use, helmet wearing and home childproofing to address this issue. Traveling across Massachusetts, the van targets under-resourced communities to educate residents on injury prevention. In 2023 alone, it reached 58,000 people, distributed over 1,300 car seats, taught 10,000 students, and fitted 3,600 helmets. The program has contributed to a notable decrease in trauma admissions at Boston Children's and could be replicated in other communities to achieve similar success. https://www.nsc.org/newsroom/nsc-announces-winners-for-2024-green-cross-for-saf?srsltid=AfmBOoqWXJvam_vQyrae1tmaPqXJRcRO7xyYTywa3NjMbomrMsU6e9l5
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Barbara DiGirolamo, M.Ed., CPSTI
Injury Prevention Program Coordinator
State Chapter Director- ThinkFirst Boston
Department of Surgery, Trauma Center
Boston Children’s Hospital
300 Longwood Ave
Boston, MA. 02115
617-355-5941
Email: Barbara.DiGirolamo@childrens.harvard.edu