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Safeguarding the kids

Two leading health care organisations are combining forces in a special program to help ensure the safety of children in Victoria.

St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) and Kidsafe Victoria today announced a partnership to promote children's safety in the home, at school and in the community generally.

Stephen Horton, Chief Executive Officer of St John and Dr Mark Stokes, President of Kidsafe Victoria, said the program was aimed at further reducing the number of unintentional deaths and injuries to children.

"We are coming together to promote our programs in relation to child safety which is one of the most relevant and vital issues in the community today," Mr Horton and Dr Stokes said.

There are two key components of the new St John-Kidsafe Partnership Program, as follows:

• The introduction of a new St John training course titled 'KIDS FIRST' which provides first aid training for parents of children aged up to 12 years - and
• The launch of a parents' guide in the form of a CD-ROM titled 'First Aid for Kids' developed by First Aid For Kids in partnership with St John, Kidsafe, the Children's Hospital Foundations of Australia and the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia.

St John and Kidsafe Victoria have similar key objectives in educating and training people in the prevention of accidents.

St John has provided valuable services to Victorians for more than 120 years with a commitment to quality first aid services and the highest standard of training and products. Among its many services are the conduct of workplace and public first aid training courses, the provision of first aid at public and sporting events, and the development and sale of first aid kits, components and manuals.

Kidsafe is an independent charitable foundation dedicated to the prevention of unintentional death and injury to children, and is the oldest injury prevention advocacy agency in the world. It conducts injury prevention programs, media campaigns, provides information, develops educational resources and initiates special programs to raise awareness of child safety issues and injury prevention throughout the community.

Stephen Horton says St John is delighted to join forces with Kidsafe in this important program.

"Kidsafe do some amazing work in the community and this partnership brings together to like minded community organisations. St John teaches practical life-saving skills in our role as Victoria's largest first aid trainer. We reach thousands of people each year and provide essential health care training to business, industry and the general community. " Mr Horton said.

"Kidsafe believes that every parent should enrol in a St John KIDS FIRST course for the health and wellbeing of their children. Kidsafe's work with St John will continue to further the effort to save the lives of Victorian children. It is the cooperation between people and organisations that build the care and intelligence of our society, and this in turn reduces the number of children killed or injured by preventable injury." concluded Dr Stokes.

For further information:

Kristian Tkatchenko
Marketing Manager
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)
Telephone: 03 8588 8322
Mobile: 0434 565 422

Aleksandra Natora
State Manager
Kidsafe Victoria Inc.
St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria)
Mobile: 0419 836 244