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As leaders in pediatric trauma care, we want to prevent injuries from happening in the first place. Our Injury Prevention Program provides community education, equipment and resources to help reduce the number and severity of injuries that may occur.

Our goal is to educate the public about risks for injury, and to provide equipment and resources for under-served families in the region. We teach children and families how to be safe at home, at play and on the go.

Resources

Safe Kids Dauphin County Coalition

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids Dauphin County Coalition is comprised of organizations in and around Dauphin County that are committed to improving the welfare and safety of children in our community. The members and partners of the Safe Kids Dauphin County Coalition include: 

Coalition mission and goals

The mission of Penn State Injury Prevention Program and the Safe Kids Dauphin County Coalition is to promote the prevention of childhood injuries through education, networking and advocacy.

Our goals are to:

  • Work with community partners to reduce the risk of injury to children in central Pennsylvania
  • Educate parents and caregivers to provide a safe environment for children
  • Increase community awareness that injuries can be prevented
  • Work for changes in laws, policies and products to decrease causes of injuries

Get Involved

Donate

The work of the Penn State Pediatric Injury Prevention Program is funded by two non-profit organizations:

Donations from the Dauphin County community help us provide child restraints to local low-income families who otherwise might not travel safely in a car. Please consider making a donation to help us continue our important work.

Make checks payable to: PSU/Injury Prevention Program

Donations may be sent directly to:

Penn State Pediatric Injury Prevention Program
600 University Drive, H113
P.O. Box 850
Hershey, PA 17033

Schedule an Event

Schedule an educational safety event for your school or community event. We can do presentations on a variety of safety and injury prevention topics.

For more information, call the Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Pediatric Injury Prevention Program at 717-531-SAFE (7233).

Resources

Bicycle and wheeled sports

Bike and Sports Safety

A bike helmet is an essential part of bike riding and should be worn every time you ride your bike.

Other bike and sports safety tips

Consumer safety and product recalls

Cribs for Kids Program

Penn State Health Children's Hospital Pediatric Injury Prevention Program is a Cribs for Kids site. This program educates parents and caregivers about safe sleep practices and ensures that babies have a safe place to sleep. 

For more education and information about safe sleep, please visit the National Institutes of Health Safe to Sleep website.

Fire and burn prevention

General injury prevention

Home safety

Impact Teen Drivers

The Impact program is geared toward teen drivers and uses a unique emotional approach (versus the scare and gore approach) that will empower teens to make meaningful changes in their own driving habits, as well as promote safe driving in their communities. The goal is to ultimately change the culture of driving to one that is distraction-free.

Call 717-531-4566 for more information.

Motor vehicle and child passenger safety

Pedestrian safety

Poison

Safe Sitter Program

The Safe Sitter Program teaches 12-15 year-olds the essential skills for safe and successful babysitting. Each student will learn:

  • What to do if a child chokes
  • How to call for emergency help
  • Babysitting business skills
  • Basic childcare skills
  • Safety for the sitter
  • How to entertain children and keep them safe

The one-day Safe Sitter course is offered periodically according to interest. For registration fee pricing, please contact us.

We typically hold 2-3 classes per year. For more information, or to sign up for the next class, contact the Injury Prevention Program at 717-531-SAFE (7233).

Sports

    Teen Driver Education

    Inexperienced drivers are more likely to be involved in an automobile accident. Statistics show that 42 percent of our patients between the ages of 18 and 20 who have been hurt in a crash are unrestrained, and 48 percent of these crashes involve speeding. A cascade of bad driving decisions (speeding, distractions and choosing not to wear a seat belt, for example) can lead to a collision with severe injuries. In this class, instructors show teens and parents what may happen after a car accident and how to “drive to stay alive.”

    The objective of the four-hour program is to present 16- to 19-year-old drivers with information about the possibility of injury following a motor vehicle collision. By experiencing reality-based education inside the Trauma Center at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, teens are more likely to make safer driving choices.

    Either a parent/guardian or any Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon and Perry county Magisterial District judge can make program referrals.

    Cost: $20

    Call 717-531-3885 to register for this class.

    Other presentation or program topics include:

    • Bike Safety
    • Distracted Driving
    • Motorcycle Safety
    • Home Safety
    • Farm Safety and Emergency Response
    • Grandparent Safety
    • Pedestrian Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Is it Time? (talking to a loved one about driving safety)

    ThinkFirst

    The ThinkFirst presentation is offered in partnership with Penn State Health Children’s Hospital. The curriculum focuses on brain and spinal cord injury prevention through the implementation of age-appropriate lesson plans targeting injury-risk areas.

    Call 717-531-4566 for more information.

      Water and boating safety

      Contact us

      Penn State Health Children's Hospital
      Pediatric Injury Prevention Program, H113
      600 University Drive
      Hershey, PA 17033
      Phone: 717-531-SAFE (7233)
      Fax: 717-531-3784