National Safety Council Urges Americans to Make Safety a Priority on Safe Communities America Day

ITASCA, Ill., Oct. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the National Safety Council is calling on all Americans to observe Safe Communities America Day by making safety a priority in their homes and communities and taking steps to protect themselves and their loved ones. The charge is led by Safe Communities America, a program the National Safety Council has managed for the last 10 years.  Accredited Safe Communities will mark the occasion by recognizing community safety leaders who have shown dedication and commitment to safety at the local level.

"Preventable injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and more than 70 percent of these deaths occur in our homes and communities," said Carrie Nie, director of Safe Communities America at the National Safety Council. "The efforts from accredited Safe Communities have a direct impact on local safety. Safe Communities America Day is a way to shine a light on the achievements that have been made because safety is a priority."

Every four minutes, someone in the U.S. dies of a preventable injury. According to the NSC State of Safety report, which graded states on how well they address preventable deaths, no state receives an 'A' and half received a 'D' or 'F'. To combat preventable injuries and deaths, 17 different communities have taken the steps to become accredited Safe Communities – a distinction given to cities, universities or regions that take proven steps toward protecting the lives and improving the safety of residents. 

In the 10 years of the Safe Communities America program the Network has graduated more than 3,000 adults from fall prevention programs, inspected more than 12,000 car seats, and trained nearly 40,000 students in violence prevention. The Network has also brought Active Shooter training to nearly 15,000 students, distributed more than 40,000 smoke alarms and collected nearly 30,000 pounds of unneeded prescription drugs at the community level.

Individuals play a key role in keeping their communities safe, whether or not they live in an accredited Safe Community, and there is no shortage of ways for Americans to make safety a priority at home. NSC offers many resources Americans can use to gauge their biggest risks and create a safety strategy.  

For more information about Safe Communities America, please visit safecommunitiesamerica.org.

About the National Safety Council

The National Safety Council (nsc.org) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.

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SOURCE National Safety Council

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