WINDER - The Georgia Department of Public Health has given a portion of a grant totaling over $150,000 to Barrow County as part of the department's Injury Prevention Program.<br />
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According to a press release from Barrow County Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Dakin, the Barrow County share of the $161,000 Child Passenger Safety Mini-Grant, funded by the Governor's Office of Highway Safety, will be used by Barrow County Emergency Services and the Sheriff's Office to purchase car seats that will distributed throughout the county.<br />
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The release included statistics related to the use of child safety seats, saying that at least 283 Georgia children involved in motor vehicle accidents have been saved from serious injury or death since 2007 due to the use of properly installed car or booster seats.<br />
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"Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children and it's up to all of us to do everything we can to protect our children on the road," said Lt. Dakin. <br />
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"Buckling up our children is the best way to save lives and reduce injuries." <br />
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The Department of Public Health partners with over 135 Georgia counties each year to educate locals on the proper way to keep children safe while riding inside of motorized vehicles.<br />