Keeping our children safe "On the Way" is a focus of Safe Kids Upstate through these initiatives:

Child Passenger Safety
Children of all ages need special care when they ride in motor vehicles.  Many adults are surprised to learn that it can take up to 12 years for a child to be big enough for safety belts – close to 5 feet tall and between 80 and 100 pounds.  Until children reach that size and weight, they need to use car seats or booster seats for both protection in case of a crash and comfort.  Your child will take three car seat steps before reaching step four, the safety belt.

 

Safe Kids Upstate’s Buckle Up Program has been in operation for 10 years and provides free inspections of car seats, shows you how to install and adjust car seats properly and evaluates older kids for safety belt fit at:

To request a Buckle Up presentation at your next event, please complete our online Buckle Up Request form.

 

Bicycle Safety
Bicycles are associated with more childhood injuries than any other consumer product except the automobile. More than 70 percent of all children ages 5 to 14 ride bikes. Safe Kids Upstate educates children and families about bicycle safety in three ways. Interactive bike rodeos teach children how to ride a bike responsibly. When participating in a rodeo, children ride through an obstacle course while learning: rules of safety; proper bike maintenance; and how to wear a helmet properly. Participants receive a bike license upon  course completion.

 

Safe Kids Upstate also offers high quality bike helmets through Bell Sports. At the reduced rate of $7.50, families can purchase helmets that otherwise would cost around $40. Educational presentations complete the bike safety program. Using interactive, tactile exhibits, Safe Kids Upstate staff present bike safety messages in a variety of settings from classrooms to street festivals.

 

ThinkFirst for Teens is designed to educate high school and college students through a powerful message that urges teens to “use your mind to protect your body.” ThinkFirst discusses In-depth the causes and effects of brain and spinal cord injury with:

This program is available as a presentation for classrooms, student leadership organizations, civic groups, or other community agencies. To arrange a presentation for your class or group contact Kisa Mason, CTRS, 864-455-7711.