University of Iowa Children's Hospital is one of just six children's hospitals nationwide to receive funding from the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions to develop a Safety Store and Safe Escape program.
The Safety Store was created to make safety products available at reduced prices and to provide safety education and information so families know how to use the products to prevent injuries. Pam Hoogerwerf, community services coordinator for the program, talks about the safety Store:
The Safety Store was created to improve the health and the wellbeing of all children by offering families injury-prevention safety products, and most importantly, the education behind those products and how to use them correctly.
Is the Safety Store a retail location or online?
We have a slight retail location. We have a custom retail moveable cart that will shortly appear around the hospital at consistent times and places each week; where families can come to the cart, be informed about the products, and purchase a product.
But we are more of a virtual store. At this point we have an online site with a catalog so people can order either through faxes or through the online Safety Store link.
Can you describe some of the items available through the Safety Store?
We have items that help protect kids relating to transportation, so car seats are a big item. We have bike helmets and protective devices for elbows and knees while riding scooters and skateboards.; We have childproofing items for in home safety—to keep appliances and cabinets locked. We have unique products to help keep track of your children if you have some wanderers. We also have products for kids with medical alert needs—allergies or autism for example—who need some sort of identification on them.
Does the safety store stock items for children with disabilities?
There are items available. They're probably the most exciting for families who have kids with the special health care needs. There are so many families who have no idea about the sort of adaptable products that are out there that deal with both mobility and sensory issues. We're excited to be able to educate families to help keep those kids safe.
What is the Safe Escape program?
That goes along with the adaptable products for kids with the special health care needs. The Safe Escape program was started by FEMA and has to do with evacuating and emergent situations for kids with special health care needs. They've been somewhat ignored in the scheme of getting kids out of places safely. There's a big push to educate families about adaptable products that are available. For instance, for kids who have a hearing loss issue, there are smoke detectors that have bright strobe lights that go off since they're not able to hear the alarm.
Some safety items are well below normal retail prices. For instance, a bike helmet is only $9. Why is it important to offer these products at reduced prices?
Again, the beauty of our program is that it is not a moneymaking venture for the Children's Hospital. It's all about being able to offer these products to every family at the lowest costs possible. We want to make sure families are keeping these kids safe, since unintentional injury is the leading cause of death from birth to 14 years of age.
Do you also offer safety education programs for the public?
The most enjoyable part goes beyond just the products that are available. We educate families, whether that's about injury prevention. |
