Madison Receives International Safety Designation
The City of Madison, Wis., has been named a designated International Safe Community for the community's commitment to safety and injury prevention. A formal presentation ceremony was held Oct. 13 in Madison, an event marking only the sixth time this honor has been bestowed on a U.S. community and the first in Wisconsin. According to the National Safety Council, the city is now one of only 160 communities around the world to be recognized for local safety efforts.
"We have been very impressed with the way organizations and businesses in Madison are working together to protect residents. Because of this multifaceted effort, Madison is preventing injuries and saving lives," said NSC President and CEO Janet Froetscher.
NSC is an affiliate Safe Communities Support Center for the United States and is part of an international movement coordinated by the Collaborating Center for Community Safety Promotion, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Sweden, for the World Health Organization. NSC noted that Safe Communities America® has worked with the Madison community to reduce injuries and promote health and safety. Citizens and representatives from community sectors, including local businesses, fire protection districts, park districts, police, public health organizations, and schools all participated in achieving the recognition, NSC said.
The Safe Community designation is awarded based upon six indicators:
- A cross-sectional partnership responsible for community safety promotion
- Long-term sustainable programs for all genders, ages, environments and situations
- Programs targeting high-risk groups and environments
- Programs that document the frequency and causes of injuries
- Evaluation measures to assess programs and the effects of change
- Ongoing participation in national and international Safe Communities networks
The designation process was overseen by the Safe Communities Foundation New Zealand Certifying Centre. For more information, visit www.safecommunitiesamerica.org.