Dell Children’s Child Safety Seat Program Expanding To Rural Communities

“It’s rewarding to be able to help families get their car seats inspected and make sure they’re using them correctly,” said Stewart Williams, manager of the injury prevention program at Dell Children’s.

AUSTIN, Texas —The Pediatric Level I Trauma Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas is expanding its child safety seat inspection program beyond Travis County.

Thanks to a $320,000 grant from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) monthly child safety seat inspections will now be available to families in Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays and Williamson counties. The grant funds the Kids in Cars program, a partnership between TXDOT and Dell Children’s, which is part of Ascension, the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system.

“It’s rewarding to be able to help families get their car seats inspected and make sure they’re using them correctly,” said Stewart Williams, manager of the injury prevention program at Dell Children’s.

Williams says expanding the program is one way Dell Children’s working to provide convenient, person-centered care at the right place and the right time.

“There’s a huge need for families in rural areas to get this type of instruction and we look forward to helping,” Williams said.

Child safety seat inspection stations are set locations where families can get help from certified child passenger safety technicians and learn how to use their car seat safely. Technicians can assist families with:

• Installing car seats and booster seats
• Answering any related questions caregivers may have
• Ensuring children are riding as safely as possible in the family’s vehicle
• Receiving safety seats for families who qualify for assistance based on need

Kids in Cars partners with community organizations to host ongoing inspection stations. The following locations were recently added:

• Elgin Fire Department
• Lockhart Police Department
• First United Methodist Church of Johnson City
• Kyle Fire Department
• Georgetown Fire Department

Walk-in times vary, therefore appointments are strongly recommended. To schedule a child safety seat inspection, call (512) 324-TOTS. Learn more about Kids in Cars.

About Seton Healthcare Family

In Texas, Ascension operates Providence Healthcare Network and Seton Healthcare Family, which includes Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and another 120 related clinical facilities that together employ more than 13,000 employees. Across Texas, Ascension provided more than $910 million in community benefit and charity care in fiscal year 2015. Serving Texas for 114 years, Ascension is a faith-based health care organization committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable. Ascension is the largest nonprofit health system in the U.S. and the world’s largest Catholic health system, operating 2,500 sites of care – including 141 hospitals and more than 30 senior living facilities – in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Visit www.seton.net.