In observation of National Injury Prevention Day, Sporting Kansas City has lit Children’s Mercy Park green as part of a nationwide awareness campaign that highlights the significance of injury and advocates for prevention.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, American children are faced with another crisis. Injuries are the leading cause of death and disability to U.S. children from 1 to 18 years old. Every day, 20 children die from preventable injuries, resulting in more deaths than all other diseases combined.
In response to this trend, the Injury Free Coalition for Kids launched the inaugural National Injury Prevention Day on Wednesday. Children’s Mercy Park is one of countless major destinations across the country to shine green in a coordinated effort to raise awareness. Several Kansas City landmarks and entities are participating in the initiative, including the following:
- Children’s Mercy Park
- Children’s Mercy Hospital – Adele Hall campus and Kansas campus
- Charlie's House, Kansas City Missouri City Hall
- Kansas City Fire Department
- Kansas City Police Department
- Nurture KC, Healthy Stars
- Safety & Health Council of Western MO & KS
- Bike Walk KC
- The City of Kansas City
- Union Station
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids is a hospital-based, community-oriented injury prevention program with efforts anchored in research, education and advocacy. Each Coalition site has independent, physician-led programs driven by the coalition’s mission of preventing injury to children. The coalition is comprised of over 40 sites located in Level 1 Trauma Centers in 30 states across the U.S. For more information, click here and visit injuryfree.org.
Wednesday’s campaign comes more than seven months after Sporting Kansas City rallied with local and national organizations to #LightItBlue, lighting Children’s Mercy Park blue to show appreciation for the brave efforts of first responders, healthcare professionals and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
