Sheryl E. Allen Bracey, MD, MS¹, Crystal Ricketts, PhD², Anita Brentley, BA, MEd², and Victor F. Garcia, MD³. (1) Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, 513-636-7966, sheryl.allen@chmcc.org, (2) Trauma Service, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, (3) Director, Trauma Service, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229

Background: Although unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for all children, it extracts a disproportionately high toll among the economically disadvantaged. Low income and minority children are twice as likely to die in a car crash, four times more likely to die from drowning, and five times more likely to die in a fire. Objective: The purpose of this case-control study was to evaluate a Head Start-based injury prevention program. Methods: Prevention devices and behaviors for home, motor vehicle, fire and pedestrian injuries were addressed through a nine month classroom curriculum for children and educational programs for parents and teachers. A family safety fair was conducted at each intervention school. Data collection included pre- and post-program observation of pedestrian behaviors and occupant restraint usage, parent and teacher questionnaires, and testing of children’s injury awareness and knowledge. Results: Preliminary data shows the classroom curriculum was effective in teaching recognition of dangers and appropriate behaviors. Safe pedestrian behaviors increased significantly at intervention schools (p=0.05). There was no significant difference in restraint usage among drivers (p=0.06); however, there was an increase in child restraint (p=0.05) at intervention sites. Conclusion: Head Start is a family-oriented program, which provides an infrastructure for delivering injury prevention messages to all age groups. The children’s component of the program was effective. Parents, however, need a better understanding of the importance of being restrained in their vehicles.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how to develop and evaluate an injury prevention program focusing on the risks of low income and minority pre-school children.

Keywords: Community Education, Injury Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: This project was funded by a grant from the Maternal Child Health.