Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

Center for Childhood Safety


Keeping kids safe…at home, at play, and on your way!

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death for children 14 and under. Although these tragic accidents may appear to be random, and outside our control-they tend to follow predictable patterns, and are often preventable.

The Center for Childhood Safety at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital is committed to preventing serious and fatal injuries by providing education and resources both to the hospital and the community. We offer child safety services in Pierce, Kitsap and South King Counties.

CAR SEAT PROGRAM
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of fatal injury for children under 14. Many children are not riding in car safety seats or not using seat belts correctly. It is important that parents and caregivers provide the best protection for their growing children. We have six Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff to answer questions like:Car Seat Checks

  • How do I choose the right car safety seat for my child?
  • Where can I get help installing it in my car correctly?
  • What about Washington law-how long does my child need to ride in a booster or sit in the back seat?
  • Where can I purchase a car safety seat?


Car seat question? Call the car seat helpline at 253-403-1417. We can answer your questions and refer you an upcoming car safety seat inspection.

HELMET SAFETYBike Helmet
Children participate in a variety of wheeled sports- such as biking, skateboarding, scootering, wheeling, and roller/inline skating. They are a great way to stay active and have fun-but are also a leading cause of injury-related hospital stays for Washington children.

Use your head- wearing a properly fitted helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 85 percent. Custom-fit bike ($7) and skateboard ($10) helmets are available for purchase at the Center for Childhood Safety year-round. Ski/snowboard ($15) helmets are available from November through February.

Our helmets are custom-fitted, wearer must be present. Where can I get a custom- fit helmet?

  Life Jackets
WATER SAFETY
Drowning is also a leading cause of fatal injury in Washington. Drownings occur primarily in open water such as lakes, rivers, Puget Sound, or the ocean. 90 percent of those who drown were not wearing life jackets.

Custom-fit life jackets are available for $14 at the Center for Childhood Safety from April through September. Short term loaners are available for free year-round.

For more information, call 253-403-1234.


COMMUNITY EDUCATION
We have education materials and resources on childhood injury prevention for your community groups, events and schools. Call our Tacoma office at 253-403-1234 to:

  • Schedule a booster seat presentation for your pre-K, kindergarten, or 1st grade class
  • Reserve a “Water Wise Kids Kit”- preschool water safety curriculum
  • Check out a display board with injury prevention messages for your event 
  • Pick up education materials to distribute at your event


SAFE KIDS
Safe Kids Worldwide is the first national non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of accidental childhood injuries to children under 14 years of age. Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center is the proud lead agency for local Safe Kids coalitions in Pierce, Kitsap and King County-South. Members of local Safe Kids coalitions represent a wide variety of community organizations such as fire departments, law enforcement departments, education programs and schools, health care organizations, local health departments, human service organizations and other community members.

Safe Kids members provide prevention programs and services such as child passenger safety, helmet safety, water safety, pedestrian safety and fire safety.  Recent projects coordinated by local Safe Kids coalitions include car seat inspections, booster seat distribution programs, low cost helmet and life jacket sales, life jacket loaner stations and International Walk to School Day events.
 
For more information: