"Parents

and caregivers too often think common types of childhood injuries are

just a part of growing up," said Rick Ryckeley, Fayette County Risk

Watch Coordinator and firefighter for Fayette County Fire and Emergency

Services.

"But these

injuries are preventable, and it's our mission to provide parents and

children resources to help reduce these unintentional injuries."

Risk Watch,

a pilot program of the National fire Protection Association, targets the

eight leading causes of injury for children: motor vehicle crashes, fires

and burns, choking, suffocation and strangulation, poisoning, falls, unintentional

firearm accidents, bike and pedestrian hazards and water hazards.

Through a grant

provided by The Allstate Foundation, Fayette County Safe Kids will participate

in the pilot program this fall.

Spring Hill

Elementary School has been chosen as the first site. The program will

roll out this winter, after the teachers have been trained. Over the next

four years, Fayette County Safe Kids plans to implement the Risk Watch

curriculum in every Fayette County middle and elementary school.

"Fayette

County Safe Kids has set a precedent by being the first safety and prevention

organization to implement Risk Watch in Georgia," said Janine Parris,

Allstate Foundation chairperson.

"Their

committed coalition of safety experts has worked hard to bring this program

to Fayette County. We're proud to support Fayette County Safe Kids and

the Risk Watch program."

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