The Dawson County Health Department has been awarded the 2023 Car Seat Mini Grant by the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Injury Prevention Program. 

According to a press release by the Dawson County Health Department, through the mini grant the Dawson County Health Department and Dawson County Emergency Services will work together to provide car seats and education to financially eligible families in Dawson County. 

The program is funded by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help ensure Georgia’s children are safe while riding in motor vehicles and has provided education, car seats and booster seats to families across the state for years. 

“Since 2007, the education, car seats and booster seats provided through the Mini Grant prevented serious injury or death and saved over 425 of Georgia’s children who were involved in crashes,” the release said. “According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car seats reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent among infants and by 54 percent among children ages 1 to 4 years in passenger cars.” 

Car seats offer the best protection for children if a crash occurs and are most effective when the are installed properly, the release added, and nearly three out of four car seats are not used properly, so the education aspect of the grant is also important. 

“It’s our responsibility to keep our children safe,” Dawson County Health Department Office Manager Amy Jusak said in the release. “The Car Seat Mini Grant is a great opportunity to help our community and help protect our children from serious injuries or death in motor vehicle crashes.” 

In Dawson County, the Dawson County Health Department educates parents and caregivers on how to properly install and use car seats, offers car seat inspections and provides car seats and booster seats to financially eligible families, the release said. Through the Car Seat Mini Grant, agencies supporting over 120 counties are working to keep Georgia’s children safe. 

“These programs help families get their children buckled up right, every trip, every time,” the release said. 

For more information about the Dawson County Health Department’s car seat program, contact the department at 706-265-2611.