More than 115 car seats were distributed to families in need during the 2024 year through USA Health Children's & Women's Hospital, bolstering efforts to promote safety and health equity across South Alabama.

The hospital's pediatric community outreach division spearheaded the initiative, funded by an $18,110 grant from State Farm, according to a news release. Alongside the car seat distributions, approximately 241 car seats were inspected at free events across the community by nationally certified technicians, ensuring proper installation and use.

"We are dedicated to promoting safety and health equity in our community. We are leading efforts in car seat safety as well as other initiatives with our Safe Kids South Alabama coalition, such as water safety, fire and burn safety and pedestrian and bike safety," Courtney Thomson, pediatric outreach education coordinator, said in the release.

She also noted that 24 new child passenger safety technicians were trained.

The team also expanded its services to children with special needs, purchasing five Wallenburg seats for a loaner program designed to assist children with spica casts. These specialized body casts are typically used to immobilize the hips and legs following an injury or surgery.

In addition to distributing car seats, the program provided child passenger safety and hot car education at events such as safety fairs, early Head Start programs, community baby showers and hospital-based classes. Outreach efforts extended to the Mobile County Health Department's Teen Center.

Looking ahead to 2025, USA Health plans to expand its car seat distribution program and other outreach efforts into rural areas of the state. Virtual classes will also be introduced to accommodate families unable to attend in-person events.

Thomson credited the program's success to the commitment of the technicians.

"I am so proud of our team," Thomson said. "Our technicians participated in all these events throughout the year, often working in extreme heat to ensure car seats were installed correctly. Their passion for promoting safety is the reason we were able to help so many families."