Injury Prevention Program

Prevention is the Best Medicine 

The Injury Prevention Program at Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD) is committed to providing Health, Healing, and Hope by protecting children from preventable harm. Through our Level I Pediatric Trauma Center, we empower families with essential resources on car seat safety, safe sleep, and home injury prevention. From specialized sports injury prevention to community-based violence intervention through our Safer Futures program, our goal is to create a safer community and ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy and strong!

Every year, more than 12,500 children come to our Emergency Department, urgent care centers, or inpatient units with traumatic injuries — many from everyday accidents. The good news: many of these injuries can be prevented with simple actions like using the right car seat, supervising play, and making homes safer for children.

Our Trauma Program doesn’t just treat children after an injury occurs; we work tirelessly with families across the region to ensure those injuries never happen in the first place.

Invite our Team to Bring Safety Education to Your Next Event

Our team values the opportunity to connect, educate, and promote a healthier community through injury prevention! If you are interested in having the CHKD trauma team come to your next event, please fill out the Community Event Form.

Parenting Classes & Education

CHKD provides a variety of expert-led opportunities for parents to gain practical skills.

• Baby 101: A foundational class for expectant and new parents covering newborn care at home, including essential home safety and medical concerns.
• Safe Sleep Education: Detailed guidance on the "ABCs of Safe Sleep" (Alone, on their Back, in a Crib) to reduce the risk of SIDS and sleep-related accidents.
• Parenting Workshops & Webinars: Ongoing sessions led by pediatricians and health experts on topics like home safety, burn prevention, and positive parenting strategies.

Specialized Car Seat Services

Beyond standard safety education, CHKD’s certified car seat experts provide the regional gold standard in child passenger safety and technical expertise.

Join CHKD, Hall Toyota Virginia Beach, and the Virginia Beach Fire Department on April 15, 2026, for a FREE car seat education and distribution event. Learn how to properly install your car seat and safely secure your child with guidance from certified experts. Appointments are approximately 30 minutes per seat. Sign up here

• Car Seat Safety: Hands-on education from certified technicians to ensure seats are installed correctly and fit the child properly.
• Special Needs Car Seat Program: A unique program where physical and occupational therapists evaluate and provide specialized transportation solutions for children with medical conditions like autism, cerebral palsy, or those in orthopedic casts.

Community & Violence Intervention

CHKD takes a proactive role in community-wide safety through trauma-informed outreach.

• Firearm Safety & Free Gun Lock Distribution: CHKD pediatricians provide free gun locks and education to help families prevent the leading cause of death in children. Proper storage — keeping firearms unloaded and locked separately from ammunition — is proven to reduce the risk of injury by 78%.
• Safer Futures: A hospital-based violence intervention program that works with victims of community violence and their families to break the cycle of injury and provide safety planning.
• Child Advocacy Center: Provides a safe environment and specialized medical exams for children who are suspected victims of abuse or neglect.

Concussion Safety

  Through our Sports Performance Academy, the CHKD Sports Medicine team provides focused education and support around concussion safety for young athletes.

• Concussion Safety: Comprehensive guidance on recognizing symptoms, managing recovery, and safely returning to play.