(Ross County) -- Building on the success of our current community-based programs, the Ross County Health District (RCHD) is adding the Ohio Buckles Buckeye program! The Ohio Buckles Buckeye (OBB) grant provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families throughout Ohio. The goals of this program are to increase the availability of child safety seats for families who could not otherwise afford them and to increase proper use of child safety seats.
“We are so excited to have the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program back at the Ross County Health District. This program allows us to increase the availability of child safety seats for families who may not be able to afford them for their child.” said Amie Unger, Children and Family Health Director. “It also allows us the opportunity to increase correct installation and proper uses of child safety seats within our community to limit risk of injury.”
Buckling children in age- and size-appropriate car seats, booster seats, and seat belts reduces the risk of serious and fatal injuries. Correct car seat use reduces the risk for injury in a crash by 71-82% for children, while correct booster seat use reduces the risk for serious injury by 45% for children age 4-8 when compared with seat belt use alone.
In order to receive an OBB seat, income eligible families must attend a car seat class provided by RCHD staff. Income must be within Women, Infant & Children (WIC) Program guidelines but the recipient does not need to be enrolled in the WIC Program.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 46% of car seats and booster seats are used incorrectly. To help combat this percentage, the RCHD team has added 2 Certified Car Seat Technicians available to check if your child’s seat is in correctly. Seat safety checks can be done by scheduled appointment OR by walk in service.
If you or someone you know are in need of a car seat or booster seat, call the Ross County Health District at 740-775-1137.
The Ross County Health District (RCHD), founded in 1979, is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board that works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Ross County. RCHD is governed by a seven-member board of health and consists of four divisions: Public Health Nursing, Environmental Health, Health Promotion, and Quality Improvement, and Administration. Learn more about the Ross County Health District at RossCountyHealth.org. For more information, please contact Michaela Weaver at mweaver@RossCountyHealth.org