Alameda Health System’s (AHS) Trauma Prevention Program recently coordinated its second annual Child Passenger Seat Distribution Event at the Eastmont Wellness Center. The event, coordinated by AHS Community Injury Prevention Coordinator Stefania Kaplanes, provided free car seats along with education on how to safely install them.
“We know that proper car seat use reduces the risk of injury, hospitalization or death by greater than 70% when compared with seat belts or no restraints,” said Kaplanes. “This is the reason we hold events like this. We want all Alameda County children to be safe when traveling in vehicles and parents empowered to use car seats correctly. Our number one goal is that families and children leave the event much safer than they arrived,” she said.
Several AHS departments and programs participated in the Child Passenger Safety Event, including Integrated Behavioral Health’s Growing Glowing Afterglow group, DULCE, and Centering Program, where families were selected and registered. Other participating programs included Care Management, Security, the Volunteer Department and Public Affairs and Community Engagement.
The event, which provided families with 27 child passenger seats, education, and diapers, was made possible by the support of AAA, Alameda Health System Foundation, Alameda County EMS, Eden Medical Center, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, California Highway Patrol, and independent technicians.
Kaplanes said she continues to partner with the AHS Foundation to be able to host future events. Anyone interested in participating in or supporting care seat safety events can contact Stefania Kaplanes at 510-535-7648 or skaplanes@alamedahealthsystem.org