Safe Kids USA Conducts Nearly 500 Child Passenger Safety Events During May
Safe Kids Buckle Up Offers Families Hands-on Educational Activities to Increase Knowledge about Safety In and Around Vehicles
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 5, 2008) — Safe Kids USA's local coalitions will conduct nearly 500 child passenger safety events in locations across the country during the month of May. Events will be held in nearly all 50 states, at locations including Chevrolet and other GM dealerships, fire stations, hospitals, retail stores, and insurance offices.
More than 300 of the events will be traditional car seat check-up events, where parents and caregivers learn how to properly secure children in car seats, booster seats and seat belts. Coalitions will also be holding the Automotive Safety Patch program for Cub Scouts, a new element of Safe Kids Buckle Up that teaches families how to keep children safer in and around vehicles.
The program covers proper safety belt and booster seat use, teaching families not to leave their children unattended in a vehicle, safety in and around vehicles and how to contact OnStar in the event of an emergency. Certified child passenger safety technicians from the coalitions will also conduct educational workshops for dealership personnel.
The Safe Kids Buckle Up program holds vehicle safety events for children and families throughout the year in all parts of the country, said Torine Creppy, Safe Kids USA's chief program officer and director of the Safe Kids Buckle Up program. The sheer number of events scheduled for May shows the commitment of our Safe Kids coalitions and volunteers who dedicate themselves to assuring a safer ride for children across the country.
Safe Kids Buckle Up is a national program developed by Safe Kids USA and sponsored by the General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of protecting children in and around vehicles at all times. Since 1997, the program has inspected nearly one million car seats, donated approximately 365,000 seats to families in need and educated millions of adults and children through programs such as Spot the Tot and Never Leave Your Child Alone.
In addition, a fleet of more than 130 Mobile Car Seat Checkup Vans serves communities across the United States, more than 450 permanent child safety seat inspections stations are operated by Safe Kids coalitions, and program resources are used to advocate for upgraded child passenger laws in the states.
