LABELLE — The Florida Department of Health in Hendry and Glades Counties (DOH- Hendry/Glades) takes proactive steps to promote child safety and support local families through several programs, including water, car seat, and sleep safety.

“These programs help keep our children safe, healthy, and thriving,” said Brian K. Prowant, administrator for DOH-Hendry/Glades. “Whether it’s in the water, in the car, or at home, working together with our community partners supports protecting our youngest residents.”

Water safety

• As water activity increases during the summer months, DOH-Hendry/Glades distributed life vests to public pools across Hendry County to aid in the prevention of drowning

• Eligible families can take advantage of free swim lessons for children 4 years old and younger, offered through the Florida Department of Health’s Swim Lesson Voucher Program. Local lessons are offered by a certified YMCA instructor to help children build vital swimming skills.

Car seat safety

• Through partnership with Safe Kids Southwest Florida, Hendry County EMS, and the Healthy Start Coalition of SWFL, DOH-Hendry/Glades is working to improve access to free or reduced-cost car seats for families in need.

• DOH-Hendry/Glades will host the Safe Kids of SWFL’s Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) certification training in October at its LaBelle This training teaches how to properly install a car seat.

“We’re excited to collaborate with our longstanding partner, the Florida Department of Health in Hendry County, on this critical initiative” said Julie Noble, MMS, CPST-I, Safe Kids SWFL coordinator. “It’s important to increase the number of certified child passenger safety technicians in our community.”

Sleep safety

 DOH-Hendry/Glades offers free portable cribs to eligible families and safe sleep

• These efforts are supported by local data and statewide findings that unsafe sleep environments remain a leading cause of preventable infant deaths.

For more information about these programs, visit FloridaHealth.gov or contact DOH- Hendry/Glades at 863-674-4041.