The mission of this coalition is to prevent unintentional injuries to children from birth to 19 years of age. The local coalition, an affiliate of Safe Kids Worldwide, consists of community collaboration between health professionals, law enforcement and parents. The program serves as a consultant to counties in the region and conducts educational events. Focus areas include water safety, fire safety, poison safety, EMS Week, bicycle safety, child passenger safety seats, teen safe driving, sports safety and pedestrian safety.

We invite you to like/share/follow us @SafeKidsPittCounty on Facebook

Community members can purchase an age/weight-appropriate child safety seat at Winterville Fire/Rescue on the third Friday of each month from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. Rear-facing convertible and forward-facing harness seats are $60 each. High-back booster seats are $30 each. No appointments are necessary.

The Safe Kids Pitt County diversion program provides education sessions in return for dismissal of a child passenger safety citation. This program is also available on the second and fourth Friday of each month at Winterville Fire/Rescue from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Bring your ticket, your child, an age/weight-appropriate child safety seat, and your drivers license. The cost is $30 (cash only), and appointments are not necessary.

The Teen Safe Driving Program raises awareness about key safety messages that are critical for teen drivers to be safe on the road ways. The goals of the program are to increase seat belt use and reduce distracted driving related crashes and fatalities among teen drivers. This is done through monthly education related to underage drinking, speeding, drowsy driving, texting and other distractions faced by teens on the roadway. The Teen Safe Driving Program was the recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Highway Safety Program Richard Sales Program Award, a distinctive award that recognizes programs that have made a substantial impact upon their community in regards to traffic safety.

Download the Parent-Teen Safe Driving agreement

Pitt County SADD is a community-based program that focuses on identifying and reversing destructive decisions. SADD partners with schools and other organizations to provide students with the adult mentorship and education needed to make wise choices. The program currently focuses heavily on vaping and substance use prevention and mental well-being in students. Students are referred to supportive resources when needed.

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Each year, 2.8 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. One out of five falls causes a serious injury, such as broken bones or a head injury, and more than 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling. Despite the startling statistics, many inexpensive home modifications can help prevent falls.

Remembering When is a multi-agency prevention program that assesses homes for fire and falls risks and makes “on the spot” modifications as needed.

Suicide is a serious public health concern affecting all ages, but is the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34. Some groups, such as those identifying as LGBTQ+ or veterans, have higher suicide rates than others. The Suicide Prevention Program targets those at highest risk, and provides mental illness training to those that love and care for these individuals.

For a list of Pitt County Mental Health resources, go to https://www.pittcountysadd.com/mental-health.

Firearms are the second leading cause of death in children ages 0-19, and firearms are used in half of all suicide deaths. Fourty-three percent of children live in a home with a firearm that is unlocked and loaded, and three out of four children ages 5-14 know where the firearm is kept. Time, space, and locks can provide life-saving moments for all ages. The Pitt County Firearm Safety Coalition provides firearm safety education and free distribution of gun locks throughout the community.

Road traffic injuries and deaths is a global problem; rural eastern North Carolina is no different. Road traffic crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 1-54. In North Carolina, about 160 pedestrians and 20 bicyclist are killed each year, representing about 15% of all traffic fatalities that occur in North Carolina. The Greenville Traffic Safety Task Force is a multi-agency team that aims to reduce crashes through collaborative efforts including enforcement, environmental modifications, education and awareness.

Since the implementation of the Greenville Traffic Safety Task Force in 2018, we have seen a significant reduction in crashes, and are currently ranked No. 8 in crashes for cities of our size (down from No. 1 in 2018). The team was the recipient of the 2019 Governor’s Highway Safety Program Collaboration Award, an honor that recognizes innovative and collaborative approaches to improvements in traffic safety.

Outreach

The public outreach team links ECU Health EastCare to regional hospitals, field providers and the general public. We are available to provide educational classes to organizations across our service area. We also offer an observer program and tours of all of our locations. Contact us at 252-847-4779 or email [email protected] for more information about our outreach programs.

Education

We provide informational displays for the helicopter and mobile intensive care unit, as well as public education on health and safety topics for community events throughout eastern North Carolina. Depending on the specific request, we may be able to provide a speaker, helicopter and/or a mobile intensive care unit. To request additional information or to schedule visits, call the outreach department at 252-847-4779 or email [email protected].

Metro Alert Training

EastCare utilizes the Metro Alert application for early notification of a variety of patients requiring emergent transportation from a scene. Call 252-847-4779 or email [email protected] for more information or to request a demonstration.

Trauma Education

We also provide trauma education for health care providers in hospitals, fire/EMS/law enforcement agencies and community colleges. Call 252-847-4779 or email [email protected] to request the education or request more information.

ASERT Landing Zone Safety Class

EastCare’s Aero-medical Safety Emergency Response Training class (ASERT) aims to increase the safety awareness of regional emergency response agencies. Topics include an overview of EastCare, landing zone identification, communication, hazards, safety and helicopter scene operations. To schedule an ASERT class for your organization, call 252-847-4779.