Tweeners and Innovation
For the purpose of this discussion a tweener is a child who has outgrown a car seat and is too small for a conventional shoulder and lap belt configuration. The proper course of action to secure this group is to use booster seats. However, three states have no laws requiring the use of booster seats and in many others the requirements are vague and not enforced. In most cases of a tweener a shoulder belt does not fit correctly and the lap belt by itself is dangerous. Not knowing better many parents will tuck the shoulder belt behind the child, unaware of the hazard this poses.
Ford recently demonstrated a new shoulder harness with an air bag built into it. This is a tremendous improvement for all- especially for children. Regardless of the law in your state, regardless of whether you are required to use a booster seat- do it for the safety and life of your child. For more information on the new airbag and a compelling story to use booster seats please see the following Today Show video.
Child Passenger Safety is a 24/7/365 Job
For one week, Child Passenger Safety was on everyone’s mind! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Ad Council combined to make an all-out effort to get the message out: parents and other caregivers need to make the right choices regarding child safety car seats…and resources are available…help is available.
But one week is not enough time to get the message out to all who need to hear it. Child passenger safety, when it comes to choosing the right car seat, installing it properly, and making sure it that it is appropriately latched, is an issue that requires addressing 24 hours a day/ 7days a week/ 365 days a year.
To that end, the message has to continue. Everyone you know who transports young children needs to know that free help is available for the purpose of making sure that they are choosing safe car seats and using them properly.
On Twitter: Any child passenger safety questions will be answered by an actual safety expert. Go to the @ChildSeatSafety account on Twitter.
On Facebook: The page at http://facebook.com/childpassengersafety is the place for parents to learn about the LATCH program, location of inspection offices, and any other up-to-date information from NHTSA.
On the Website: Created by the Ad Council, in conjunction with NHTSA, http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/ is a website for parents to go to in order to be able to view instructional videos, locate inspection stations, and take a fun quiz to make sure you have the correct information regarding child passenger safety.
The more caregivers who become aware of, and utilize this information, the more childrens’ lives we save.
We all need to observe National Child Passenger Safety Week
We struggle in so many ways to keep our children and grandchildren safe from the many dangers we know are out there, both on the streets and in our homes. Yet surprisingly, even those who love them the most, are willing to do everything in their power to protect them from harm, still allow them to be exposed to a dangerous situation, sometimes several times a day. I’m talking about the few minutes required to make sure they are properly restrained in their car.
I’m a grandma. When my own children were young, there were no child restraint safety seats, therefore, no safety regulations regarding their use. Seatbelts were the only safety measures available in cars, and their use was not yet mandatory. Today, with the availability of four types of safety restraints for children based on age, height and weight statistics – and a step-by-step instruction guide to help you figure out which one you need (thank you!) – the watchdogs of child safety have made the use of the proper restraint a no-brainer. Combined with easy-to-follow installation methods (including offering videos as well as live help options) the only part of protection that remains to be taken care of is making sure the restraints are closed properly. That job was never intended to be left for the “kids” to handle themselves. What I think has happened over the last number of years is, with Mom or another caregiver transporting children to school, doctors, play dates, lessons, sports, shopping, etc . . . , everyone is in and out of the car so many times a day, that the easy way out took precedence over what is correct. We let the kids buckle themselves in. But making sure they are safe is an adult responsibility.
It’s time for a reality check. Too many children are killed or maimed each year because an otherwise loving, conscientious caregiver did not realize that the child safety restraint was not the proper one, was not installed correctly, or was not secured the right way. These are senseless and preventable tragedies.
Reaching out to and teaching these loving caregivers that help is available to minimize or eliminate the injuries sustained by children in a car crash has become the mission of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This week, September 12 through September18, has been designated National Child Passenger Safety Week. Using all the tools at its disposal to spread awareness and make safety checks available to anyone interested in keeping children safe while being transported in a car. NHTSA has gone all-out to spread the word.
We wish everyone concerned in this worthwhile endeavor “good luck”. We’re hoping that every person reading this takes the time to forward the information and the links to all the caregivers they know.
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Higher Penalties For Unrestrained Children…Says an 8th Grader
It took an eighth-grader researching a civics project to get the attention of the public regarding a serious child safety issue. Alexa Sepulveda was so moved by what she learned, she wrote a letter to the editor and it was published by Shore News Today on April 28,-2009 Her letter was so incredibly insightful that I wanted to share it with you here in its entirety:
To the editor:
Hello, my name is Alexa Sepulveda and I am an eighth-grade student at the Galloway Township Middle School. I am currently doing a civics project and my topic is increasing the penalty for driving with an unrestrained child in the car.
This has become an issue which, in my opinion, isn’t addressed enough. I believe that the penalty should be increased because it would deter parents from not putting their children in a car seat or booster seat. Restraining a child in a car will make everyone safer while driving.
For my project I have done some research, and the facts are frightening. A study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in October 2002 showed that 42 percent of all unintentional childhood deaths were due to automobile crashes.
According to NHTSA, every day in the United States during 2006, an average of five children ages 14 and younger were killed due to crashes. During 2006, 6,983 car passengers age 14 and younger were involved in fatal crashes. For those children, 25 percent were unrestrained; among those who were fatally injured, 45 percent were unrestrained.
Most people think that they will never get into an accident, but it happens every day and you have to be prepared for when it does.
Many parents install car seats wrong, say they can’t pay for a seat or misuse it once it is installed. This is understandable for new parents or guardians whose financial situation isn’t good. For these reasons, many car dealerships, baby supply stores and police stations have places and times where you can take your car seat and they will install it in your car properly for you. If you are unable to buy a child restraint, there are many organizations that are more than willing to assist you in getting one.
As you can see, this is an ongoing issue all around us. In doing this topic as my project, I am hoping to make children safer, and to educate people about the need to restrain children to keep everyone safer.
Alexa reminds us of some important things: accidents can happen…we must make sure we are prepared so our children are safe if they do…and we are not alone, there are others who can help us get there.
Coincidentally, National Child Passenger Safety Week is coming on September 12th through 18th. It is sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). I’m hoping that all of you travelling in cars with young children take advantage of this opportunity to check that they are safely restrained. And a great big hug to Alexa Sepulveda for caring.
Thank you, Texas! Little Kids Need to Travel Safely
Having been one of the last 6 remaining states without a child safety seat requirement, Texas passed a law, effective September 1, 2009 requiring children under the age of 8 and/or 4 feet 9 inches in height to be restrained in a child safety seat system. This includes a traditional child safety seat with a harness or a booster seat which will raise the child up enough to allow the car’s seat belt and shoulder harness to protect the child in the appropriate places and not do more harm.
http://www.corsicanadailysun.com/local/local_story_178185644.html
The necessity for protecting the youngest in our society is an adult responsibility, long overdue. So if we protect them from accidental injury while a passenger in a car, shouldn’t we be providing that same protection when they are sick and/or hurt and traveling at high speeds in an ambulance?
Something to think about . . . and maybe do something about? Isn’t every child’s life worth it???
If you agree, then there is something we can all do to help make a difference right this very minute…
A lot of folks don’t know that we’re not transporting kids safely in ambulances – including those folks in Washington who could pass some laws to do something about this. So let’s make sure enough people know about this that it can’t be passed over. (…and hey, when you’re all done entering the contest, please leave a comment and let other people know what you think about safe ambulance transport for kids)
Introducing: Thank you, Texas! Little Kids Need to Travel Safely Contest
The Prize :
To two first place winners to thank you for helping us make a difference: one month of Starbucks Frappuccinos (or $25 worth on a Starbucks card)
And Here’s How it Works:
Below you will find our CONTEST ENTRY FORM. It includes our MANDATORY entry for the contest as well as the opportunity for you to enter a BONUS entry…
For simplicity (and so that you can tweet multiple times) you can use this form for each bonus entry, however, if this is an additional entry, please check the box saying this an additional entry so we know you have already completed your mandatory entry requirement
For your MANDATORY ENTRY:
Tweet the following on Twitter ” New Starbucks Giveaway! We need ANSRs for Kids (Ambulances Need Safety Regulations) Every child’s life matters! http://ow.ly/hutQ Plz RT! “
For your BONUS ENTRIES:
- Retweet the following ”New Starbucks Giveaway! We need ANSRs for Kids (Ambulances Need Safety Regulations) Every child’s life matters! http://ow.ly/hutQ Plz RT!” (you may tweet once daily = 1 entry)
- Click on the “Share This” at the bottom of this post & submit this to your favorite social network (= 1 entry)
- Join our community (note: An email will be sent asking you to verify your membership – you must login to your email & verify membership ) http://pediatricsafety.net/wp-login.php?action=register ( = 2 entries)
- Blog about this giveaway and link to this post http://ow.ly/hutQ (=2 entries)
- Join the cause on Facebook and send invites to your friends – help us spread the word that things have got to change http://apps.facebook.com/causes/299331?m=3f1cca43 (=3 entries)
- Sign the petition – help us tell Congress that we need ANSR’s for Kids http://www.rallycongress.com/pediatric-safety/2168/ansr-kids-ambulances-need-safety-regulations/ (=3 entries)
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2 WINNERS
Shirley Brondum – #51 – with a Mandatory Tweet
Carol Dziuba #33 – with an Additional Entry – Signed the Petition (You’ve signed! Next, send your comments as a letter to your elected officials. entry 1)
Contest Rules:
Giveaway is open to USA and Canada readers only. Giveaway starts Friday July 17, 2009 and ends at noon EST Friday July 31, 2009. Please fill out a separate form for the mandatory entry and each bonus entry so we can make sure each entry gets counted. (…that means if you completed a bonus that has 3 entries, please submit 3 forms). Please make sure each form has your name and a valid email address. You will have 48 hours to email me if you win. Winner chosen using random.org. Good Luck to all entrants!
