County of Santa Clara receives grant for child passenger safety program

Espanol

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, Calif. – The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department will provide free child safety seats and education to families facing financial barriers to help protect children from serious or fatal injury during motor vehicle traffic crashes.

Thanks to a grant of $205,000 just awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Safety Administration, the Public Health Department can continue to ensure that children under 8 years old are secured in a size-appropriate safety seat. The grant program runs through September 30, 2025.

“This grant will allow us to reach underserved families in our county to provide child safety seats and education at no cost,” said Anna Aistrich, Child Passenger Safety Program Manager for Santa Clara County. “Financial pressures exacerbated by the global pandemic mean families may prioritize other expenses over purchasing child safety seats, especially if they are not seen as essential. Providing properly installed child safety seats to families dealing with financial challenges can make the difference between having their children survive a car crash or not.”

The Public Health Department will host community outreach events, safety seat inspection stations, and education classes on the correct use of child safety seats. By providing seats, hands-on training, and support, all families can access the knowledge and tools to keep their children safe.
 
Even if families understand the need for child safety seats and can afford to buy one, they may not be informed about proper installation. Many manuals for safety seats sold in California are available in English and Spanish but rarely in other languages. For anyone who speaks another language or has difficulty with technical manuals, following the installation instructions is challenging. Parents and caregivers also may not know how to get assistance in properly installing their child safety seats.

Though fatal injuries from motor vehicle traffic crashes have declined in recent years, they are still among the top five causes of death for Santa Clara County children ages 5-14. Fortunately, for children under 8, the number of fatalities remains low, but the number of injuries has increased substantially year over year. Traumatic injury is still the leading cause of emergency department visits in our county for children ages 5-14, with 140.3 motor vehicle injuries per 100,000 during 2017-2021. Proper child restraints are critical in preventing traumatic injury due to motor vehicle crashes and reducing the number of these tragedies seen in local emergency departments.

For over 20 years, the Public Health Department has provided training and thousands of free child safety seats to income eligible families as part of its Child Passenger Safety Program. For more information visit sccphd.org/carseat.