Protecting Kids from the leading cause of death and disability-- Accidental Injuries   Injury: The #1 Killer of Children Child injuries are preventable, yet more than 9,000 children died from injuries in the US in 2009. Car crashes, suffocation, drowning, poisoning, fires, and falls are some of the most common ways children are hurt or killed. Parents- we can do more to keep our children safe.   Vital Signs: Child Injury To help highlight the issue, the latest edition of CDC Vital Signs discusses the serious problem of child injury in the United States. It also highlights steps that everyone—including parents—can take to help save young lives. Learn more   CDC Vital Signs Fact Sheet   CDC Feature Article: Injury is the #1 Killer of Children    Protect the Ones You Love    NEW recommendations on child passenger safety from the American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/carseat2011.htm Child Passenger Safety experts recommend keeping children rear facing "2 the Limit". This means to help ensure the best outcomes in a car crash, all children under the age of 2 years old should ride rear-facing OR to the height and/or weight limits of your car seat.  Many car seats on the market go up to 30 or 35 pounds rear-facing.  Depending on how children grow, this could realistically take the child into their 3rd year.  Check your car seat or owners manual today and lets work together to keep our kids safe! Safe Kids Larimer County, led by Poudre Valley Health System,  is a partnership of health care providers, government agencies, civic clubs, law enforcement, and private and public organizations committed to preventing accidental injuries in children ages birth to 14 years old.  We are part of the Safe Kids Worldwide, made up of over 450 coaltions nationwide.  Safe Kids works to keep Larimer County children safe by focusing on the following areas of injury prevention: Child Passenger/Motor Vehicle Safety Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Fire and Burn Prevention Water Safety Choking and Poisoning Prevention Fall Prevention Firearm Safety Please check our Safety Tip of the Month page or the Safe Kids Worldwide website to learn about ways you can protect your child at home and in the car. Safe Kids Larimer County participates in a variety of programs and activities to increase awareness and help the community work to protect children.  Call our Buckle-Up Hotline at (970) 495-7502 or check out our Car Seat Resources page for upcoming Child Safety Events.  For more information, contact Laura Richardson, Injury Prevention Coordinator for Poudre Valley Health System at lfr1@pvhs.org or (970) 495-7504.