In Cincinnati Today, Brown Highlights Local Effort to Keep Kids Safe from Preventable Injuries at Home

Brown Participated in a Home Visit Where Experts Evaluated Safety Risks and Educated Local Families on How to Prevent Injuries in and around the House. Procter & Gamble and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital are Partnering with Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati to Help Provide Safety Guides and Install Free Safety Equipment to Keep Cincinnati-Area Homes Safe.

CINCINNATI, OH – (RealEstateRama) — In Cincinnati today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited a local family to highlight a local effort to keep children safe from preventable household injuries. Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati – led by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – conducts home visits to evaluate safety risks and to educate families on how to prevent injuries in and around the house.

“Protecting our children and ensuring they grow up in safe, supportive homes is one of the most important jobs we have,” Brown said. “Through the work of Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati, P&G and Cincinnati Children’s are showing how public-private partnerships can make a difference in keeping our kids safe. Small changes – like keeping hazardous household products on high shelves and in closed containers – can make a real difference and save lives. I encourage all parents and caregivers to take advantage of these programs and resources offered by Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati to help prevent childhood injuries.”

At the home of Barbara and Franklin Phillip, Brown was joined by Shailesh Jejurikar, President of Global Fabric Care at Procter & Gamble, and Dawne Gardner, Injury Prevention Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The Phillips recently gained custody of three grandchildren under the age of 12 and sought help from Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati to ensure that their home is a safe place for their children.

“As both a parent and a business leader, the safety and satisfaction of the families that use our products is a top priority,” said Shailesh Jejurikar. “That’s why we are focused on efforts to reduce accidental exposure. Safe Kids Worldwide continues to be a valuable partner in our efforts to educate families to keep liquid laundry pacs away from children by storing them up, closed and safe. We are proud to be here alongside with Senator Brown, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Greater Cincinnati as we work together to eliminate preventable accidents.”

“Unintentional injury is the number one cause of injury and death for children under the age of 19. Since the home is the most common place for young children to be injured it is important that anyone who has or cares for a young child understands how to keep kids safe in the home setting,” said Dawne Gardner. “The CCIC Home Safety Program along with its’ partnership with Safe Kids and P&G provides parents with the education and resources needed to ensure their young kiddos avoid serious injury, disability and death due to an unintentional injury such as poisoning, falls and burns that can occur in the home. With over 1000 homes reached through our home safety program, we have seen an up to a 60% reduction in home injuries and a cost reduction in injury claims and care. It is the CCIC’s goal to make sure kids are safe in the places they live and play and keep them out of our local emergency rooms.”

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital started conducting home visits started in May 2012 and they have visited more than 1,000 homes. In addition to the home safety trainings, Safe Kids Cincinnati provides a number of programs, including: car-seat checkups, safety workshops and sports clinics to help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries.

There are 13 other coalition chapters in the state of Ohio, including: Hancock County; Carroll County; Central Ohio; Delaware County; Fairfield County; Greater Cleveland; Greater Dayton; Greater Toledo; Mahoning Valley; River Cities; Stark County; Summit County; and Tuscarawas County.

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