J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and Safe Kids of Huntingdon County presented the first baby born at J.C. Blair during Child Passenger Safety Week, James Patrick Souvigney of Robertsdale, with a convertible car seat and a newborn health and safety package of gifts. Pictured with James are his mom, Angelique Reif, along with J.C. Blair Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Crystal Wyland (left) and Julie Distler, RN (right). James arrived on September 14, 2009, to become J.C. Blair’s first delivery during Child Passenger Safety week Wyland instructs parents of newborns on the proper installation of infant seats and also is able to inspect the child restraints for older siblings. Wyland is one of approximately 1,000 Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in Pennsylvania.
National Child Passenger Safety Week
The pediatricians, family doctors and nurses of J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital and the members of the Huntingdon County Safe Kids Chapter want to make sure children are as safe as possible when traveling in vehicles. Child Passenger Safety Week, September 12-18, 2009, is a good time for parents to review their child’s safety in the family vehicle. J.C. Blair and Safe Kids want every family to remember that we must work together as a team to effectively promote safety belt use, as well as child passenger safety.
The theme for Child Passenger Safety Week 2009, “Pennsylvania’s Life-Saving Team”, reminds parents and caregivers that there are resources available to help them learn how to safely transport children. Sponsored by the Huntingdon County Safe Kids Chapter, the Pennsylvania State Police offers free car seat safety checks the third Tuesday of every month from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Huntingdon State Police Barracks. In addition, J.C. Blair Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Crystal Wyland is available to consult with families about proper child restraints.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages three to 14, due in large part to the nonuse or improper use of child seats and seat belts. Working with parents and “Pennsylvania’s Life-Saving Team,” it is the goal to ensure every child is properly secured and safe every trip, every time.
Fortunately, the collective efforts of “Pennsylvania’s Life-Saving Team” are making a difference. According to the NHTSA, research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants (younger than one year old) and 54 percent for toddlers (one to four years old) in passenger cars. Research also shows that an estimated 8,709 lives have been saved for child restraints from 1975 to 2007.
During Child Passenger Safety Week this year, it is important to remember that as children progress through different stages of growth and development, their child restraint needs change. Parents must be mindful of the Four Steps for Kids as set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These steps will help make buckling up a life-saving habit.
The Four Steps for Kids include:
1. Infants ride rear-facing in infant seats/rear-facing convertible car sears until they weigh at least 20 pounds AND are at least one year of age. For optimal protection, use a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the maximum weight and/or height allowed by the manufacturer.
2. Forward-facing toddler seats from age one and at least 20 pounds to around age four and at least 40 pounds.
3. Booster seats from about four years old and at least 40 pounds to age eight, unless 4’9” tall.
4. Lap and shoulder safety belts at age eight or older and 4’9” tall. Children under 13 should ride in the back seat of the vehicle.
Under Pennsylvania’s child passenger safety law, all drivers are responsible for securing children in the appropriate child restraint system. All children from birth up to age four must be secured in an approved child safety seat anywhere in the vehicle. All children age four up to age eight must be secured in a seat belt system and appropriate child booster seat anywhere in the vehicle. All children age eight up to age 18 must be secured in a seat belt system anywhere in the vehicle. Under Pennsylvania’s seat belt law, all drivers are responsible for the front seat occupants to wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt system. All drivers under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle in which the number of passengers exceeds the number of available safety belts in the vehicle.
J.C. Blair Maternity Ward Clerk and Child Passenger Safety Technician Crystal Wyland of J.C. Blair Memorial Hospital states, “We hope you will pay special attention to this life-saving information. Use it and share it with your friends.”
For more information about child passenger safety, call 1-800-CAR-BELT or visit the website www.pakidstravelsafe.org.