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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Crystal L. Stafford, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, # 11082, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1182, 270-745-2015, crystal.stafford@wku.edu and Mary Christine Nagy, PhD, Dept. of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd., Bowling Green, KY 42101.

Unintentional injuries occur frequently among children. In the fall of 2005 a local Housing Authority in Southern Kentucky identified unintentional injuries and safety issues as concerns for children who attended an after school program at their center. An 11-item inventory addressing specific recreational and school activities associated with unintentional injuries and or safety issues for children aged 5 to 14 was developed.

Parents completed the inventory when they came to pick up their child(ren) from the after school program. Parents were also offered $5.00 in tokens to a local pizza restaurant for completing the child safety inventory. Of the 31 child safety inventories that were returned, 29 provided usable data.

Parent responses indicated that children who attended the after school program were between five and fourteen years of age. Parent reported that 97% of the children used a seat belt while riding in the car; 93% of the children played on a playground, 90% rode the bus to school, 83% rode a bicycle, 76% either roller skated or roller bladed, 53% played in or near a parking lot or street and 45% of the children were bullied while they played at school or at home. This poster presentation will describe in detail the needs assessment process used to identify, develop, and implement safety programs designed to reduce unintentional injuries among children attending an after school program led by a local Housing Authority in Southern Kentucky.

Learning Objectives: