Saving children’s lives, one car seat at a time

Motor vehicles are a wonderful means of transportation, but for children, there are inherent dangers hidden in every car ride. In 2007, the most recent year for which data is available, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for children ages three to six and eight to 14. Riding in a vehicle without seat belts and properly installed child safety seats is the greatest risk factor for death and injury for children nationwide. In fact, during 2007, NHTSA also stated that 45 percent of children ages 14 and younger that were killed in motor vehicle accidents were not restrained by seat belts, car seats, or booster seats.Additional NHTSA statistics show that, on average, 568 children were injured, and five children were killed every single day in 2006, resulting in 1,335 vehicle child-occupant fatalities.“Injuries and fatalities for children involved in motor vehicle accidents can be greatly reduced if parents and caregivers properly use available safety restraints,” said Patty Maag, child passenger safety instructor at the Tuscarawas County Health Department. “We need to train more technicians so that they can assist parents to assure that car seats and booster seats are being used correctly. An incorrectly installed safety device cannot work as it is designed to.”“Individuals throughout the area who are interested in becoming nationally certified child car seat technicians can help to save lives,” Maag added. “We will be offering the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s four-day Standardized Child Passenger Safety Technician Training Program on April 12, 13, 19, and 20 at the county health department, meeting each of these days from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.”Area law enforcement, community service, nonprofit, and private citizen participants are encouraged to take advantage of this specialized training. Attendance at all four sessions is mandatory to become certified.“It would be wonderful if we could have certified technicians throughout the county. We hope employers will encourage and support their employees to take part so they, too, can provide this lifesaving service to area families,” commented Maag. She added that certified technicians can take part in all types of community education and safety events, and that the more people who are certified, the more quickly all families can be reached. The program provides an opportunity for law enforcement departments and companies to provide a tremendously valuable community service, helping to prevent childhood injuries and deaths of local children. The number of participants that can be accommodated is limited, so registration is on a first come, first served basis. A non-refundable registration fee of $85 is required, and covers all supplies, resources, meals, and snacks during the four sessions. There is an additional $75 certification fee due to National SAFE KIDS Coalition that covers both the two-year certification and the student manual.“This will be a hands-on class, along with classroom time,” said Maag. “Expect to be outside in all kinds of weather as we learn how to properly install all types of child car seats, but you will be helping to save lives.”Registration should be completed by March 26, and can be done online at www.safekids.org/certification. For more information, contact Maag at 330-343-5555, ext. 137.