Child Passenger Safety to be focus of fair

In an effort to bring awareness to Child Passenger Safety Week 2007, a safety fair will be held on Feb. 19, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Golden Motors Chevrolet, located on Hwy 2335 in Cut Off.

Sarah Martin, the Safe Kids Louisiana coordinator, is spearheading the event. She has collaborated with the Louisiana State Police Troop C to make this event possible for Tri-parish residents.

Trooper First Class Rodney Hyatt said state police will conduct the demonstrations for the public because seatbelt safety and child restraint safety is one of their No. 1 priorities.

According to a new study released by Safe Kids Worldwide, car seat checkups provided by Safe Kids coalitions have been very effective in teaching parents important safety skills. The research also showed that safety advocates need to do a better job of getting their message and hands-on training to families in underserved communities.

“With a redesigned outreach program and a grant from Safe Kids Worldwide funded by Chevrolet/General Motors, Safe Kids Louisiana is working closely with Louisiana Passenger Safety Task Force, Louisiana State Police and Lady of the Sea Hospital to deliver safety messages,” Martin said.

Child Passenger Safety Week 2007 will focus on safety for young tweens, children eight to 10 years of age. This year’s safety messages will be aimed at an age group often neglected in child passenger safety outreach.

“We’ve always designed our safety messages for parents and caregivers, but older kids need to be developing their own safety habits as they become more independent,” said Martin. “Most children who range from ages eight to 10 should be riding in a booster seat for the best protection in a crash. Children in this age group are among the least likely to be in the correct restraint. We need to promote booster seat usage which is as automatic as it is for small children to ride in car seats.”

According to Martin, Safe Kids Louisiana, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend that children who have outgrown car seats ride in booster seats until they are about 4 feet, 9 inches tall or 80-100 pounds. Most children reach this height and weight between ages 8-12.

She said Safe Kids Worldwide has developed the Safety Belt Fit Test as an easy way for parents to determine when the adult safety belt in their vehicle provides optimal protection for their child in the event of a crash.

“The idea of sitting in a booster seat when you’re in fifth or sixth grade is a hard sell — we realize that,” said Lorrie Walker, child passenger safety technical advisor for Safe Kids Worldwide. “But we’ve looked at the science and know that it’s worth the effort to change people’s attitudes toward booster seats. They prevent injuries and save lives every day.”

Interactive exhibits at Golden Motors will teach Lafourche Parish tweens and their caregivers about proper usages of booster seats and safety belts.

The following is a list of demonstrations that will be administered by State Police Troop C:

• Safety Belt Fit Test

Children who have outgrown the height and weight limits for a car seat should use a booster seat until they are approximately 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 80 to 100 pounds. State safety officials said nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will teach parents and tweens how to perform the Safety Belt Fit Test to determine when a growing child is ready to move from a booster seat to an adult safety belt. In a recent demonstration, 30 Cub Scouts ages seven to10 took the Safety Belt Fit Test. Of the 30, only four could sit properly in adult safety belts without a booster seat.

• Trunk Escape

Children will be taught that trunks are for cargo and not safe places to play. All new vehicles since 2001 are equipped with a glow-in-the-dark release handle inside the trunk.

Parents and youngsters will learn the importance of staying out of trunks. Children will learn how to find the release handle. Parents will learn to keep keys and keyless entry devices out of reach of children.

• Never Leave Your Child Alone

Based on data collected by San Francisco State University, it is estimated that at least 30 children per year die of heat-related illness after being left alone in a parked car or getting into a parked car without supervision.

Even in mild weather, the temperature inside a parked car can quickly reach levels that are dangerous to young children — an effect the technicians will demonstrate with digital thermometers inside and outside the vehicle. After seeing this demonstration, parents will understand why they can never leave a child alone in or around a car.

• Spot the Tot

Nearly 2,500 children per year go to the emergency room after being struck by a vehicle in a driveway or parking lot. Parents will learn to walk all the way around the vehicle to look for kids before getting in — and to keep toys and pets out of the driveway so children aren’t tempted to play in that area.

In this demonstration, adults sit in a driver’s seat and kids line up behind the vehicle; the driver is usually amazed to see how many kids lined up behind the vehicle were not visible. Kids will learn to remind adults of the importance of doing a “walk-around” before getting in the vehicle.

Caregivers and children who participate together in Child Passenger Safety Week events in February will be eligible to win prizes if they visit www.usa.safekids.org and demonstrate their improved safety skills in an online game.

In addition, the Louisiana Highway Commission issued a release concerning the incorrect installation of child safety seats. Commission officials say a staggering percentage of these incorrect installations limited the parent’s ability to prevent death and injury of their young children.

“When used and installed properly, child restraints systems reduce serious or fatal injuries by more than half,” Executive Director of the Louisiana State Highway Safety Commission Col. James E Champagne said. “This is a good time for parents to check their child’s safety seat and make sure that it’s installed in a way that will keep the child as safe as possible when riding in a motor vehicle.”

Highway commission official said approximately 7,500 lives nationwide have been saved by proper use of child restraints during the past 20 years. While the majority of parents use child safety and booster sears to protect their young children, studies show that more than 80 percent of seats in the U.S. are improperly installed.

Safe Kids Louisiana provides car seat inspections and Safety Belt Fit Test assistance throughout the year as well. To find an inspection site or certified technician call (504) 613-8884. Visit www.usa.safekids.org/skbu for more information about child safety in and around cars.

Staff photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN • Tri-Parish Times * One-year-old Houma resident Alyson McElroy enjoyed the day with her grandmother Cindy Porche last week as they visited loved ones at Terrebonne General. McElroy was strapped correctly in her car seat. The grandmother said the one-year-old doesn’t like to ride in the safety restraint, but knows if she doesn’t, she can’t travel. McElroy is the daughter of Houma residents Kathy Porche and Kyle McElroy.