As the holiday travel hustle descends, the Arizona Department of Health Services is stepping up in a unique way to keep kids safe on the road. In an effort to lend a hand during what can be a chaotic time for families, the Arizona Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program is offering free car seat stickers, detailing vital health and contact information for children, as reported by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a troubling statistic: last year 81 Arizona children lost their lives due to injuries sustained in motor vehicle crashes. The conventional wisdom here is anything but comforting; these are tragedies that could often be avoided. "Every second counts when responding to an emergency. By adding the Emergency Pediatric Information Card (EPIC) Car Seat Stickers to a child’s car seats, parents can provide first responders with essential details about their child, which can make all the difference in an emergency," explained Rachel Zenuk Garcia, Bureau Chief for the ADHS Bureau of EMS and Trauma System, in a statement shared on the ADHS Director's Blog.
The car seat stickers, which are straightforward to apply, include a space for the child’s name, date of birth, emergency contact numbers, and pertinent medical conditions or allergies. They're meant to be attached to the car seat on the side facing the door, ensuring that this potentially life-saving information is the first thing that a first responder would see.
For those interested in obtaining a sticker or learning more about distribution partnerships, the Arizona EMS for Children's website provides more detailed information. Questions can also be directed to Abriana Smith at [email protected].
