News & Stories
May is Safe Kids Month!
Promoting Child Safety: Safe Kids Southern New Jersey in Action
Did you know that Cooper University Health Care is the lead agency for Safe Kids Southern New Jersey?
This is because Cooper is home to the Southern New Jersey Regional Trauma Center and The Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, South Jersey’s only state-designated acute care hospital for children.
Safe Kids USA is the first and only national non-profit dedicated solely to preventing unintentional childhood injuries. These injuries are the leading cause of death among children aged 14 and under in the United States.
Our dedicated Safe Kids team has been actively engaging with students across the region, spreading vital bike and pedestrian safety tips. Here are some highlights from their recent efforts:
- Holly Hill School in Westampton: Our team delivered a booster seat safety presentation to kindergarten students and conducted bike and pedestrian safety sessions for first, second, and third graders.
- LEAP Academy University Charter School: Implementing a Safety Ambassador program, our team collaborated with high school students to create safety presentations, which were then shared with second-grade students at LEAP elementary school. Additionally, they provided bike and pedestrian safety instruction to K-8 students at Somerdale Park School and distributed helmets to all 80 third and fourth graders.
- Bike to School Day (May 8): Our team, along with the Somerdale Police Department, AAA South Jersey, Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, and Cross County Connection TMA, greeted children at Somerdale Park School, many of whom walked or biked to school.
- Woodbine Elementary: Bike and pedestrian safety presentations were delivered to students, followed by a Bike Rodeo at Timber Creek Park in collaboration with Gloucester Township Police.
- Car Seat Check: A car seat inspection event was held at Deer Park Fire Station to ensure child passenger safety.
Safe Kids offers safety presentations year-round. For more information, contact Maureen Donnelly, Safe Kids Coordinator at Cooper, at safekids@cooperhealth.edu.
Safe Kids Southern New Jersey, under the leadership of Cooper University Hospital, benefits from dedicated staff, operational support, and resources aimed at one shared mission: keeping children safe. Tailored to community needs, this coalition delivers evidence-based programs such as car-seat checkups, safety workshops, and sports clinics, empowering parents and caregivers to prevent childhood injuries.
Since 2012, the Central Jersey Family Health Consortium has supported this program with an annual grant, enabling us to continue our critical work in child safety.