HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-15-2008-3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 15, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ~-q _
SUBJECT: National Safe Kids Week Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sharron Hinton, 245-2840
Angela Carmen, 966-3230
PURPOSE: To proclaim the week of April 26-May 4, 2008 as SAFE KIDS Week in Orange
County.
BACKGROUND: The North Carolina SAFE KIDS Coalition has been involved in injury
prevention efforts for children age 0 -14 years for more than 15 years. SAFE KIDS educates
adults and children about injury prevention; provides safety equipment to families in need; and
advocates for laws and regulations to improve the safety of children.
The local coalitions establish partnerships among social service agencies, hospitals, health
departments, emergency medical services, civic organizations, private businesses and other
interested parties. A limited amount of state funding is available to help county-level SAFE
KIDS coalitions address and prevent injuries in their communities.
Orange County is in the process of establishing a local SAFE KIDS Coalition. With
representatives from various health, human services and public safety organizations, this group
will be working during the next year to meet the necessary requirements to become a
sanctioned coalition.
On April 30, 2008, a SAFE KIDS "Kick-Off' luncheon will be held at the Friday Center in Chapel
Hill. Local officials, agency representatives and community members have been invited to learn
more about childhood injuries in Orange County and plan to prevent and reduce them.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
recognizing April 26 -May 4, 2008 as SAFE KIDS Week and authorize the Chair to sign.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
National Safe Kids Week 2008
April 26 -May 4; 2008
WHEREAS, unintentional injury is the number one killer of children ages 1 - 14
years in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, each year, more than 5,000 children 14 and under die from
unintentional injuries; and
WHEREAS, for children ages 14 and under, the leading causes of unintentional
injury deaths are motor vehicle-related injuries, drowning, residential fires or burn
injury, suffocation and pedestrian injury; and
WHEREAS, 90 percent of these injuries and deaths are preventable; and
WHEREAS, reducing the barriers to attaining safety devices (such as smoke
alarms, bicycle helmets, car seats and booster seats), increasing educational
efforts directed toward children who are at high risk for injury, and improving the
overall safety of the child's environment are preventative strategies to keeping
kids safe from unintentional injuries; and
WHEREAS, Safe Kids USA and Orange County Safe Communities promote
childhood injury prevention strategies by uniting diverse groups into local and
state coalitions, developing innovative educational tools and programs, initiating
public policy changes, distributing safety devices to families in need, promoting
new technology and raising awareness through the media; and
WHEREAS, Safe Kids USA, with the support of founding sponsor, Johnson &
Johnson, launches Safe Kids Week 2008 "Gear Up for Safety," which focuses on
celebrating 20 years of creating a safer world for kids and promoting. efforts to
make further progress to protect children from accidental injuries.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, do hereby proclaim the week of April 26 -May 4, 2008 as Safe
Kids Week in Orange County and encourage and call upon all the residents of
this County to support the efforts and activities of Orange County Safe
Communities to prevent childhood injury.
This, the 15t" day of April 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners