Maternal and Child

Health Coalition

of Greater Kansas City

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press Release

 

Contact: Phyllis Larimore                                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Cellular: 816-821-8099                                                                            October 13, 2005

                       

 

SAFE KIDS METRO KC OFFERS CAR SEAT INSPECTIONS

 

Saturday, October 15th at Dave Cross Motors

 

 

Kansas City, MO- Safe Kids Metro KC, a program of Maternal and Child Health Coalition, is providing car seat inspections from 10 am to 2 pm at Dave Cross Motors, Chipman Road and 50 Highway in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. There is no charge for this service

 

Nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will perform inspections and train parents and caregivers to install and adjust their car seats properly. “Think of it as a private lesson in the correct use of your car seat,” says Deb Bumgardner, Safe Kids Metro KC coordinator.

 

Safe Kids Metro KC is one of more than 300 coalitions across the country providing these services as part of the Safe Kids BUCKLE UPÒ program. Since 1996, Safe Kids BUCKLE UP has inspected more than 600,000 car seats at more than 15,000 events and provided hands-on training to more than 9 million parents and caregivers.

 

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of children under 14. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that approximately 73 percent of all child passenger restraints — more than 80 percent of car seats and about 40 percent of booster seats — are used incorrectly. A recent car seat check in Kansas City found 100% misuse in either installation or use of passenger restraint devices.

 

“It’s a parent’s responsibility to make sure a child’s car seat is properly installed and adjusted. We’re here to show you how. In a car crash, a child restrained incorrectly is 3.5 times more likely to be seriously injured than a child who is properly restrained,” says Bumgardner. An inspection is free and usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Parents or caregivers need to bring the child, the owner’s manuals for the vehicle and the car seat.

 

Safe Kids BUCKLE UPÒ is a national program developed by the Safe Kids USA and sponsored by Chevrolet and General Motors to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of properly restraining children on every ride.

 

Maternal and Child Health Coalition promotes the health of mothers and children through community planning, education, advocacy and collaboration with organizations addressing infant mortality, immunization, childhood obesity, and child safety. More information about this event is available from Cesar Motts at Maternal and Child Health Coalition, 6400 Prospect, Suite 216, Kansas City, Missouri, 64132, Cellular phone 913.636.4701. Day-of-the-event media calls should be placed to Phyllis Larimore at 816-821-8099. Photo and interview opportunities will be available. Copy of this press release will be available at http://www.mchc.net/PressReleases.htm

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