The Injury Prevention Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is a nationally acclaimed initiative dedicated to reducing unintentional childhood injuries. Recognizing that prevention is paramount, CHLA collaborates with community partners, implements evidence-based strategies, and utilizes innovative technologies to deliver crucial injury prevention education to families. Among its recognized programs, the Kohl’s Cares Program stands out as a vital resource for enhancing child safety, particularly through car seat education and support.
Comprehensive Injury Prevention for Young Patients
For patients admitted to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Injury Prevention Program offers bedside consultations and resources to address various safety concerns. These consultations are specifically tailored to the child’s injury mechanism to prevent similar incidents from recurring and encompass:
- Fall Prevention Strategies
- Pedestrian Safety Awareness
- Child Passenger Safety Guidance
- Sports-Related Injury Prevention
- Poison Prevention Education
- Gun Safety Information
- Choking Prevention Techniques
- Hyperthermia Prevention Measures
- Fire Safety Practices
This personalized approach ensures that families receive targeted education and resources relevant to their specific needs, contributing to a safer environment for children both within and beyond the hospital setting.
Home Safety Audits: Creating a Secure Home Environment
Unintentional home injuries affect millions of children annually, encompassing hazards like fires, burns, drownings, poisonings, choking, suffocation, strangulation, and falls. While constant supervision is crucial, CHLA’s “Home Safety Audit” program, inspired by the “Home Safe Home” model, offers an extra layer of protection. This program provides in-depth home inspections for families of children recently treated at CHLA for home-related injuries. Trained Injury Prevention staff conduct room-by-room risk assessments, offering tailored recommendations, safety devices, and educational materials. This initiative empowers families to proactively minimize home injury risks and enhance child safety.
Community-Focused Car Seat Safety Initiatives
Extending its commitment beyond hospital walls, CHLA’s Injury Prevention Program actively engages with the community, offering crucial resources like car seat inspections and recycling programs. These initiatives are often supported by partnerships like the Kohl’s Cares Program, amplifying their reach and impact.
Free Car Seat Inspections by Certified Technicians
Proper car seat installation is critical for child passenger safety, yet it can be challenging for many parents. CHLA addresses this through free car seat inspections conducted by Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs). Parents and caregivers can schedule appointments to have their car seats checked and receive hands-on guidance on correct installation techniques. This service ensures children are safely secured in their car seats, minimizing the risk of injury in the event of a car accident. Contact us to schedule an appointment and ensure your child’s car seat is installed correctly.
Car Seat Recycling Program: Promoting Safety and Sustainability
Recognizing that car seats have expiration dates and can become unsafe after accidents, CHLA operates a Car Seat Recycling Program. Expired car seats or those involved in crashes should be discarded responsibly. CHLA facilitates this by offering a convenient drop-off service for car seat recycling at the hospital’s main entrance every first Friday of the month, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
The Importance of Car Seat Recycling:
- Prevents the reuse of unsafe, expired, or damaged car seats.
- Recycles over 90% of car seat materials, contributing to environmental sustainability.
By recycling old car seats, families contribute to both child safety and environmental protection. Download our brochure for more information.
Home Safety Products for a Safer Environment
To further support home safety, CHLA’s Injury Prevention Program provides access to affordable home safety products. These products are available at wholesale cost to hospital visitors, employees, and the wider community through vending machines located throughout the hospital and in select Westfield Malls (Arcadia, Sherman Oaks, and Valencia). The Safety Corner in the Family Pantry also offers these products. These conveniently accessible products include oven locks, outlet covers, cabinet locks, bath treads, and more, empowering families to proactively childproof their homes. Download our flyer to learn more about available products.
L.A. Street Smarts: Interactive Pedestrian Safety Education
L.A. Street Smarts is an innovative, hands-on neighborhood simulation program that teaches children crucial pedestrian safety skills. By navigating a realistic street environment, children learn how to stay safe while playing near roads, enhancing their awareness and reducing pedestrian-related injuries.
iPrevent Volunteer Program: Engaging the Community in Safety
The iPrevent Volunteer Program offers community members a chance to actively participate in child injury prevention. Volunteers contribute to various aspects of trauma care, disaster preparedness, and injury prevention initiatives, creating a comprehensive safety net for children. Click here to download an application and join the cause.
Safety Videos: Accessible Safety Information
CHLA provides brief, informative safety videos covering various topics, including earthquake preparedness, home safety tips, passenger safety guidelines, pedestrian safety advice, sports safety measures, and water safety precautions. These videos offer easily digestible safety information for a wide audience. Safety Videos are available for online viewing.
Resources and Collaborative Programs
CHLA’s Injury Prevention Program is strengthened by collaborative projects and programs, enhancing its reach and effectiveness.
Kohl’s Cares Programs: A Partnership for Child Safety
The Kohl’s Cares Program is a key partner in CHLA’s Injury Prevention efforts. Through this collaboration, the Kohl’s Safety and Injury Prevention Program provides essential safety education and resources to children and families in local communities. This partnership underscores a commitment to child well-being and makes vital safety programs, including car seat safety initiatives, more accessible to those who need them most. While the original article does not explicitly detail a standalone “Kohl’s car seat program,” it is understood that car seat safety education and potentially car seat provisions are encompassed within the broader Kohl’s Cares-supported injury prevention programs at CHLA. For more information on Kohl’s Cares initiatives, visit Kohl’s Cares Programs.
Safe Kids Los Angeles West: Local Safety Coalition
CHLA is part of Safe Kids Los Angeles West, a local coalition of the international Safe Kids organization. This collaboration unites numerous local groups to address child safety issues comprehensively within the Los Angeles area. Safe Kids Los Angeles West works to implement effective safety programs and initiatives.
Injury Free Coalition for Kids: National Network
CHLA is also affiliated with the Injury Free Coalition for Kids, a national program based in Level 1 Trauma Centers. This network comprises 42 coalitions across 40 states, facilitating the sharing of best practices and resources in injury prevention nationwide. Injury Free Coalition for Kids strengthens CHLA’s ability to deliver cutting-edge injury prevention strategies.
Injury Prevention Alliance of Los Angeles County (IPALAC): Local Collaboration
The Injury Prevention Alliance of Los Angeles County (IPALAC) further exemplifies CHLA’s commitment to collaboration. IPALAC brings together local partners to collectively create a safer, injury-free community within Los Angeles County, maximizing the impact of prevention efforts.
Through these comprehensive programs and strong community partnerships like the Kohl’s Cares Program, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is dedicated to creating a safer environment for all children, preventing injuries and promoting well-being throughout Los Angeles and beyond, with car seat safety as a critical component of this mission.
