University of Iowa News Release

April 28, 2008

UI Children's Hospital receives $100,000 safety grant

University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City is one of six children's hospitals in the United States selected to receive a $100,000 grant from the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions to develop a Safe Escape Program.

The grant will allow UI Children's Hospital to offer families of children with disabilities and special health care needs education, information and equipment to prepare for safe escape during emergencies.

"We are thrilled to have received such a generous grant that will allow us to provide safety tools and resources focused on emergencies and evacuation to families who are often overwhelmed by their children's daily needs," said Michael Artman, M.D., physician-in-chief at UI Children's Hospital. "These families often do not have the resources or training to plan for emergencies or natural disasters."

UI Children's Hospital plans to improve the health of children throughout the state by creating a statewide network of injury prevention education that incorporates Safe Escape principles for children, families, caregivers and emergency responders. At the same time, significant enhancements to its hospital-based safety program are planned not only by devoting additional resources to an in-hospital injury prevention education program, but through expansion of the safety product line currently offered to pediatric patients and their families.

Through the Safe Escape Program, families meet with a trained hospital staff member to assess their home life, emergency evacuation concerns and their children's health condition. The hospital staff member helps the families select products that would address their concerns and are taught how to use equipment effectively to maintain their family safety.

University of Iowa Children's Hospital serves children and their families at its main campus in Iowa City and satellite clinics in communities throughout the region. A 190-bed "hospital within a hospital," UI Children's Hospital benefits from the sophisticated services and comprehensive resources of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Child magazine ranks UI Children's Hospital among the top 20 children's hospitals in the nation.

For additional information regarding the UI Children's Safety Store/Safe Escape program, contact Pam Hoogerwerf, community services coordinator at UI Children's Hospital, at 319-353-7972.

STORY SOURCE: Joint Office for Marketing and Communications, University of Iowa Health Care, 200 Hawkins Drive, Room E110 GH, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009

MEDIA CONTACT: Tom Moore, 319-356-3945, thomas-moore@uiowa.edu.