(Madera, Calif.) – Members of Valley Children’s injury prevention and clinical teams received the Aetna Community Heart Award last week in recognition of their work with Safe Kids Central California and injury prevention messaging efforts for local communities.
Valley Children’s is the lead agency for Safe Kids Central California, a coalition of 30 agencies made up of healthcare, law enforcement, social services, education, media and more who are dedicated to preventing unintentional injury in children.
On Friday, Aetna Better Health California CEO Verne Brizendine presented the Aetna Community Heart Award to Carlos Flores, RN, Valley Children’s Trauma Coordinator, representing the injury prevention team.
“We have touched the lives of tens of thousands of kids with the promotion injury prevention messaging and advocacy,” Flores said. “We greatly appreciate this acknowledgement.”
Brizendine also presented the award to Dr. Hailey Nelson, complex care pediatrician at the Charlie Mitchell Children’s Center on Valley Children’s main campus in Madera, for her work on Safe Kids Central California’s lunch and learn Facebook Live series. Dr. Nelson is the official Ambassador for Safe Kids Central California and hosts the Facebook Live Lunch and Learn series providing injury prevention and safety tips for parents.
“It is an honor and privilege to partner with Safe Kids Central California,” Dr. Nelson said. “I love the work that we’re doing and being able to reach more families with this important information.”
Unintentional injury is the number one killer of children across the United States and around the world. Safe Kids Central California is one of 400 Coalitions who are part of Safe Kids Worldwide, an extensive network of coalitions and partners in the United States and around the world to reduce injuries from motor vehicle, sports, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more. Our primary prevention areas are child passenger safety, drowning prevention, falls/sports injuries, burn prevention, safe infant sleep, safe teen driving and medication safety.
Tune in for the next Safe Kids Facebook Live Event
To hear more from Dr. Nelson and the Safe Kids Central California team, tune in to the next Safe Kids Central California Lunch and Learn event this Wednesday, Sept. 29. Dr. Nelson and Valley Children's pediatric resident Dr. Bhavi Devireddy will give a presentation on railroad safety. Visit the Safe Kids Central California Facebook page to learn more.