Safe Kids Grand Forks Celebrates 30 Years of Injury Prevention and Saving Lives

Grand Forks, N.D. - Safe Kids Grand Forks is celebrating 30 years of injury prevention and saving lives in 2022.  

“It’s really been our honor and privilege to be within the community and really expanding throughout the region over the last 30 years,” said Carma Hanson, supervisor of Safe Kids Grand Forks. 

Since Safe Kids Worldwide was founded in 1988, there has been a 64% decrease in unintentional injury rates among children 19 and under. 

“We know what to do to keep kids safe,” said Hanson. “Now we have the capacity to do that, with the addition of our other coalitions in our region.” 

Safe Kids Grand Forks provides programming in northeast North Dakota and northwest Minnesota, addressing injury prevention efforts and helping keep kids and young adults safe at home, at school, at play and on the way.  

Safe Kids Grand Forks brings together the expertise of individuals in our community, and region, who are dedicated to reducing childhood injuries. Coalition members include Emergency Medical Services (EMS), law enforcement, fire departments, service groups, childcare providers, school personnel, government agencies, city personnel, parents, University of North Dakota staff and Altru Health System staff.  

“Kids don’t come with instruction manuals,” said Hanson. “In today’s day and age, there are so many places you can get information. Our goal is to be credible, reputable and non-judgmental. Safe Kids Grand Forks is a place where people can feel like there are no silly questions.” 

Safe Kids Grand Forks isn’t just for new parents. Grandparents, foster care providers, teachers, law enforcement and healthcare providers can reach out to Safe Kids for assistance when caring for children.  

“If we can help guide them in how to install car seats, or how to childproof a home, we feel like that partnership is really critical to keeping the kids of our community and region safe,” explained Hanson. 

To hear stories about the lifesaving work Safe Kids Grand Forks does in our community, contact Carma Hanson at Chanson@altru.org.