COLUMBIA, Tenn. — For the fifth straight year, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and Columbia Fire & Rescue (CFR) have partnered to provide safe driving programs and services to the community. They’re supported in part by grant funding from General Motors.
The programs include routine car seat safety inspection events and individual inspection appointments provided by Columbia Fire & Rescue, as well as a safe driving program to teach high school students safe driving habits. In addition, car seats and boosters are offered by the Foundation to local parents who could not otherwise afford them.
“Our goal with this program is to ensure the safety of the youth in our community while they’re in a vehicle,” said Joe Kilgore, Foundation executive director. “Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the U.S. It’s important to check that car seats and boosters are installed correctly and properly functioning.”
Since its start, the program has ensured the safety of a total of 583 infants and children at CFR stations. Firefighters have also joined forces with the Tennessee Highway Patrol to deliver the Survive to Arrive safe driving program to hundreds of students from Maury County Public Schools.
“We are grateful for our partnership with the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation and General Motors to help keep our local children safe,” said CFR Chief Ty Cobb. “We’ve been able to help a lot of families in need in our community, and we’re excited to continue those efforts.”
It’s recommended that parents bring their children to car seat inspections to ensure they’re fastened in correctly. To schedule an appointment at a CFR station, call 931.560.1734.
Since 2006, the Maury Regional Health Care Foundation has funded more than $4.6 million in programs and services benefiting community members in need. Learn more about the Foundation at MauryRegional.com/Foundation.