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Summer 2011 | Vol. 13 | No. 2
Mitsubishi and Kids Safety First Host Child Safety Seat Checks Across the Country This Summer
In recognition of the busy late summer travel season, Mitsubishi Motors and Kids Safety First (KSF), in conjunction with Dorel Juvenile Group US, is hosting child safety seat inspection events at Mitsubishi dealerships in nine states – Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Washington.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 3 to 14 years old. Four children in the U.S. are killed in crashes and 529 additional children are injured each year. National data show that 73 percent of child restraints are critically misused, and last year’s Kids Safety First events saw a 92 percent misuse rate. When used properly, child restraints reduce the likelihood of an infant under the age of one being killed in a vehicle crash by 71 percent, and by 54 percent for toddlers one to four years old. Booster seats reduce injuries by 45 percent over seat belts alone for children ages four to eight. While many states have enhanced their requirements for child restraint use, recent studies show that only half of children ages four through eight ride in any type of child restraints.
At the Kids Safety First events this summer, families receive hands-on instruction from certified child passenger safety technicians on how to properly select, install and use their child restraint systems. Certified technicians have been through extensive training through a national standardized course and have field experience.
“We founded Kids Safety First to educate parents and caregivers about the proper use of child safety seats and booster seats,” said Jorgen Weterrings, co-founder of the California-based organization. “As parents of young children, we experienced first-hand the confusion parents often face in selecting and using the right child safety seats as their children grow and age.”
The all-volunteer nonprofit organization provides free automotive child safety materials to police, fire and rescue, hospitals, schools and prenatal centers throughout the United States.
Free materials are available by visiting www.kidssafetyfirst.org/materials2.php.