Fifteen years ago, a pediatric surgeon at Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C. was distressed by the number of children with serious injuries he treated each week in the emergency room. Babies suffocated by their own soft bedding. Curious toddlers poisoned by substances found in their families’ cabinets. Children who were badly hurt simply by running across the street, playing near open windows, or riding unbuckled in cars. No matter how the injuries occurred parents asked the same question:

The doctor came to believe there was only one answer.

Preventable injuries from car crashes, fires, poisonings, drowning and other common risks remain the leading health threat to children living throughout South Central Idaho. For the thousands of parents who rushed to emergency rooms this year with a seriously injured child – each asking themselves, "How could I have kept this from happening?" – the work of SAFE KIDS has never been more relevant.

Located on Magic Valley Regional Medical Center’s campus in Twin Falls, SAFE KIDS serves all eight counties of South Central Idaho and the Elko County area of Nevada.

SAFE KIDS offers certified child passenger safety instruction, car seat and booster seats, bike helmets, snow helmets, multi-sport helmets, protective gear-wrist guards, elbow and knee pads, smoke detectors, gun locks, loaner car seats, loaner special needs car seats, loaner library safety videos and educational materials, free resources and referrals for anyone needing injury prevention information.

Our mission is to prevent and reduce injuries for children ages birth to 18.

All along we’ve said if we can save even one child’s life, it’s all worth it. We may never know about the many lives that have been touched by a SAFE KIDS free car seat inspection, educational presentation, bike rodeo or office visit. We do know more than 3,000 parents, children and caregivers walk through the doors of SAFE KIDS looking for answers to protect their children. We do know our work in the community reaches an additional 7,000+ residents throughout the South Central Idaho area. We do know as one of 300+ coalitions of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the unintentional injury death rate has dropped by 37%. And we do know there is a long way to go. But if our previous efforts are any indication, we are confident that we will continue to make progress in stopping this terrible killer.

The Results: From 1987-2002 there has been a 43% DECLINE in fatal accidental injury of children 14 & older.