Ms. Chris Vitale

Developers Paul and Chris Vitale propose to build an 80-bed assisted living center on Enfield Falls Road (Route 327) on roughly 10 acres just across from the entrance to Robert H. Treman State Park.

Chris Vitale, RN, MSNInjury Prevention CoordinatorDepartment of TraumaChildren's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Chris Vitale, R.N., injury prevention coordinator at Children's Hospital, said it's crucial to cover or empty pools after use, every time.

"A neighborhood kid walking by when the family's not home, sees the pool and wants to jump in -- that could end with something horrible happening," Vitale said.
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Last year, Children's did not report any drowning deaths, but the hospital treated 12 children for submersion injuries, Vitale said.Submersion injuries occur when children are rescued after being underwater a short time and are not resuscitated in time to prevent brain-damage, she said.

"These kids are not the same kids they were before," she said.
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Vitale endorses this approach and said it's important not to get a false sense of security, even with strong swimmers.

"A child could fall, or bump his head, swallow water, or panic," she said."They still need to be watched every second they're in the water."

Vitale also encourages parents to learn CPR if they have a pool at home.

"Those seconds really do make a huge difference in submersion injuries," she said.

For additional information about injury prevention at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, please contact Chris Vitale, Program Coordinator at (412) 692-8229 or christine.vitale@chp.edu.

Chris Vitale, MSN, RN

Program Coordinator, Injury Free Coalition for Kids of Pittsburgh

Chris Vitale is the injury prevention coordinator for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Carlow College in Pittsburgh and a Master of Science degree in Nursing Education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.Her nursing education focus was on community education and outreach.She has extensive experience in health care, including clinical, education and administrative positions, all in the area of trauma.Prior to joining the Injury Free Coalition for Kids partnership, Ms. Vitale was a Prevention Specialist working with children and families in the schools and communities.She coordinated and implemented programs in schools for grades K-12, focusing on drug and alcohol prevention and intervention, violence prevention, families in transition, coping skills, and grief and loss.She coordinated and participated in prevention education for families, communities, faculty and staff.Her area of expertise is grief and loss, and she is a bereavement facilitator for children at The Caring Place, a community bereavement center for children and families.Chris is the Program Developer and Coordinator for "This is RED-Reality Education for Drivers;" a teen traffic-offenders program.In addition, she is a medical speaker for TFFK and a certified CPS technician.

Christine A. Vitale MSN, RN Program Coordinator, Injury Free Coalition for Kids; Injury Prevention Coordinator christine.vitale@chp.edu

Now in its third year, RED has served about 250 young drivers, said Christine Vitale, Children's Injury Prevention coordinator for Children's.
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Vitale said that while boys are involved in most of the crashes, she has seen "a lot more girls" involved in serious crashes.

Vitale said that in general, boys tend to speed in neighborhoods, while girls speed on highways.

Christine A. Vitale MSN, RN, Program Coordinator, Injury Free Coalition for Kids; Injury Prevention Coordinator

Chris Vitale, a nurse who is injury prevention coordinator at Children's Hospital, said it's crucial to cover or empty pools after each use.

"A neighborhood kid walking by when the family's not home, sees the pool and wants to jump in -- that could end with something horrible happening," Vitale said.
...
Last year, the hospital reported no deaths but treated 12 children for brain injuries who were rescued after being underwater a short time, Vitale said.

"These kids are not the same kids they were before," she said.
...
Vitale endorses this approach and said it's important not to get a false sense of security, even with strong swimmers.

"A child could fall, or bump his head, swallow water, or panic," she said.