More than 70 Clayton County officials reacted with immediate concern as statistics regarding unintential injuries to Clayton County children were read.

According to Georgia Board of Health statistics, read at groundbreaking ceremonies last week for a cross walk on Rex Road at the Carl Rhodenizer Center, 43 Clayton County children under the age of 19 died from unintential injuries sustained by being hit by motor vehicles, by ingesting poison, drowning or through exposure to smoke or fire in their home or other structures from 2004 through 2008.

In an effort to stem what Clayton County Commission Chairman Eldrin Bell called “alarming statistics regarding the future generation of Clayton,” he was joined by Commissioner Sonna Singleton, Clayton County Director of Recreation Detrick Stanford and Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services Director Jeff Hood and others to take part in the Safe Kids Clayton County 2012 Task Force groundbreaking.

In addition, more than 100 youngsters taking part in the Rhodenizer Summer Camp, also took part. In her address to the gathering, Singleton said many who use the recreation center live within walking distance of the center and, a majority of those usually have to cross Rex Road to take part in activities offered there.

“We want the people using the center to feel safe and secure, not only inside the Rhodenizer Center but also feel safe going to and from it,” she said.

According to Stanford, a child’s safety at the Rhodenizer Center doesn’t begin when he opens the center door to enter or to exit.

“We have got to make sure these children are as safe going to and from the Rhodenizer Center as they are inside the center,” he said.

Thanking FedEx, which partnered with Safe Kids Clayton County and, Jeff Metarko, county transportation director, for their assistance, Bell encouraged all those present to join him in an effort to have sidewalks installed at every Clayton County public school.