Safety Programs
SAFE KIDS Linn County, formed in 1992 by Mercy and the City of Cedar Rapids, is made up of community outreach partners working together to educate and protect families.
Participants include local educators, firefighters, law enforcement officers, medical healthcare professionals and community service professionals. Together, we provide information to help families prevent accidents and injuries, and promote several local child safety programs, including:
Car Seat Safety
The Child Safety Seat program provides free child safety seat checks. Our goal is to reduce the injury/deaths of children in motor vehicle accidents, the leading cause of injury and death among children.
Through this program, we educate the community on correct installation of safety seats.
Car seat checks
Checks are offered, by appointment only, on the second Thursday of every other month from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at McGrath Buick GMC Cadillac, located at 1040 N. Center Point Road in Hiawatha. Certified child passenger safety technicians in Linn County will be on hand to make sure your car seat is installed properly and your child is riding safely on every ride.
All participants need is their vehicle, a child safety seat, vehicle and car seat owner’s manuals, and their child.
Under Iowa state law:
- A child under one year of age and weighing less than 20 pounds, must ride in a rear-facing child restraint used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child under six years of age who doesn’t meet the description above must ride in a child restraint system used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- A child at least six years of age but under 18 years of age must be secured in a child restraint system used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions or by a safety belt.
To schedule your car seat check appointment, call (319) 654-2221.
Bike & Helmet Safety
Safe Kids Linn County partners with local schools and agencies to provide education on the proper use and fit of bicycle helmets. Information is also available on how to set up a bike rodeo to teach children about bicycle safety.
To request a bike rodeo or safety presentation, please contact one of the Linn County Safe Kids Coalition co-coordinators:
Pedestrian Safety
We also schedule events with local schools to teach traveling safely to and from school.
Other Injury Areas
SAFE KIDS Linn County provides information on playground safety, poisoning, water safety, seasonal injuries, toy safety and more.
For more information on the local SAFE KIDS coalition or its programs, call (319) 286-5434.
To learn more about SAFE KIDS Worldwide, visit Safe Kids.
