Pictured (from left) are N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, Safe Kids Iredell County Coordinator Caroline Hager,  and Chief State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor.

Special to Iredell Free News

Safe Kids Iredell County Coordinator Caroline Hager was recently presented the 2020 Coalition Coordinator of the Year Award during the annual Safe Kids N.C. Injury Prevention Conference.

Safe Kids N.C. recognizes one outstanding Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator each year who has gone above and beyond in their community.

“Caroline Hager does a fantastic job working alongside an extensive network of talented partners to
accomplish this important injury prevention and lifesaving work,” Iredell County Health Department officials said in a news release.

Safe Kids Iredell County is a coalition sponsored by the Health Department working to help families and communities keep kids safe from preventable injuries.

Hager was instrumental in establishing Safe Kids Iredell, growing the coalition to include more than 30 members from various public health and safety roles.

Accomplishments of Safe Kids Iredell County include:

• Regularly conducting Car Seat inspections throughout the community and providing car seats to
families in need.
• Sponsoring a Cold Weather Drive – Collecting 307 hats, 945 pairs of socks, 321 pairs of gloves, as well
as jackets and blankets to give children in need during the cold winter months.
• Conducting Hot Car Displays throughout the community and creating a “Hot Car Window Cling” and
related notecards to share with the community to prevent infants and children from being left in hot cars
in warmer weather.
• Dispersing information about medication safety and poison prevention for infants, children and families
during Operation Medicine Drop events.
• Partnering with Iredell County Parks and Recreation to provide swim lessons to children in need
• Working with local wildlife officers to establish two life-jacket loaner sites in Iredell County as well as
securing 60 life-jackets to be used at these sites.
• Partnered with a public-school system to roll out the “Are You Tall Enough” Booster Seat Display,
during the afternoon elementary student pick-up car lines at different schools.
• Secured over 100 bicycle helmets through donations and grants to distribute at bicycle safety events.
• Visited various fire stations throughout the county to help promote Fire Prevention Week.