Hospitals in Action >> Case Examples

HarborviewMedical Center – Seattle , Washington
Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Seattle Program

What is it?
A partnership between Harborview, the Seattle Children’s Hospital, and the county public health department, the coalition has promoted the use of booster seats in immigrant communities, distributed bike helmets at no or low cost, built a playground, and sponsored a “walking school bus” in inner city neighborhoods, which involves parent volunteers who walk groups of children to school with various “stops” to collect children along the way.

Who is it for?
Children and families living in central and south Seattle. The coalition’s goal is to expand its focus city-wise, with a continued emphasis on low-income and immigrant families.

Why do they do it?
The coalition’s original intent was to reduce the incidence of childhood injury in central and south Seattle neighborhoods. Currently, the intention has been shaped into a five-year goal of making families “physically active, injury free,” which includes the following four focus areas:  

• Safe Walking – Child pedestrian safety and strategies to promote safely walking to school. 
•   Safe Riding – Bicycle safety and helmet promotion, distribution, and education. 
• Safe Swimming – Drowning prevention and water safety for diverse communities. 
•   Safe Play – Promoting safe and accessible playgrounds and recreational facilities.

Impact: Over a three-year period, booster seat use in target neighborhoods rose from 25% to 40% of passengers 4-8 years old, even as usage declined statewide. Child pedestrian safety was enhanced through participation in the walking school bus program:  25 students regularly participated at the pilot school site. A year later, nearly 18 percent more students at the school were walking compared to schools without the program. Similar walking programs have been created in other south Seattle schools and the district is now championing Safe Routes to School. Another positive outcome of the walking school bus was connecting parents to the school and to each other, even though many speak different languages. Some of the walking school bus volunteers have gone on to volunteer in their children’s classrooms. 

Contact: Brian Johnston, M.D., M.P.H.
Chief of Pediatrics
Telephone: 206-744-9507
E-mail: bdj@u.washington.edu