FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2013

Contact: Communications Office
(850) 245-4111

TALLAHASSEE—The Florida Department of Health Injury Prevention Program, in partnership with the Florida Injury Prevention Advisory Council (FIPAC), announces the 2013 Injury Prevention Award recipient, Charity N. Jones. The annual award recognizes an individual who demonstrates commitment to injury prevention.

Jones is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician through Safe Kids Worldwide and the Children’s Safety Village and is employed by the Florida Department of Health in Orange County. She provides health education outreach at various community and government agencies to educate the public as well as agency staff on the dangers of incorrectly installed car seats.

Among her outreach activities, Jones attends baby “Shower Powers” to provide education to participants on car seat safety and other health topics that affect the health and safety of infants. Participants include pregnant women and their immediate family and friends who may be potential caregivers for infants. Jones also participates in car seat safety checkpoints to evaluate car safety seats in participant vehicles while providing education on car seat safety and installation.

During the last fiscal year, Jones attended 14 Shower Powers and provided car seat safety education to 245 participants. She also provided 31 car seat safety health presentations which educated 273 participants. And during the same time period, Jones played a role in 14 car seat safety checkpoints, inspected and installed 175 car safety seats and provided car seat safety education to 250 individuals.

The Florida Injury Prevention Advisory Council exists to reduce Florida's injury burden through leadership, education, and policy. The Council of approximately 50 individuals includes representatives from six key state agencies, the medical community, injury prevention advocacy groups and non-profit agencies, university systems, research facilities, county health departments, law enforcement, and health educators/injury prevention specialists. The FIPAC’s Injury Prevention Award Subcommittee reviews nominations submitted by injury prevention stakeholders. The Injury Prevention Award began in 2006 and is presented at the FIPAC annual fall meeting.

DOH protects, promotes and improves the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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