(MSC News)--Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has proclaimed Thursday, Nov. 18 as National Injury Prevention Day in Kansas. This third annual observance shines a light on the need for injury and violence prevention.

Every day, 20 children die from preventable injuries, resulting in more deaths than all diseases combined. By using safety practices and products and smart policies, many of these deaths are preventable. Partners in support of National Injury Prevention Day include Injury Free Coalition for Kids, Safe Kids Worldwide, Safe States Alliance, the American Trauma Society, the American Academy of Pediatrics, BeSMART, the Society for Advancement of Violence and Injury Research, the Trauma Centers of American Association, and JPMA Cares of the Juvenile Products and Manufacturers Association, as well as State and local partners. Safety advocates across the country are working together to educate families and community leaders about ways to create and support safer environments.

On November 18, injury prevention partners will host Injury Free Day, a safety fair and story time for children at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Participating partners include Safe Kids Kansas, Safe Kids Shawnee County, the Kansas Traffic Safety and Resource Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Shawnee County Health Department, the YMCA of Topeka, and the Kansas Poison Center.

When the sun goes down on November 18, Evergy Plaza, Downtown Kansas Avenue and Stormont Vail Health in Topeka will be lighting up green in support of these efforts. We appreciate their commitment to a safer Kansas and invite others to join us in raising awareness of injury prevention by wearing green this Friday.

Safe Kids Kansas is a nonprofit coalition of partners and local organizations across the state dedicated to prevention of unintentional childhood injuries. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment serves as lead agency of the coalition. Safe Kids Kansas is part of Safe Kids Worldwide network. For more information, visit SafeKidsKansas.org or follow @safekidskansas on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.