Keeping young ones safe is goal of Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 13-19

Keeping children safe on the road means putting them in the right safety restraint at the right age. That's the message from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) during National Child Passenger Safety Week Sept. 13–19.

From 2010 to 2014, 21 children under the age of seven were killed in Idaho passenger-vehicle crashes. Of those, 11 were unrestrained.

"In 2014, five of the eight child passengers under seven years old killed in car crashes weren't in car seats, booster seats, or wearing seat belts," said Sherry Jenkins, with ITD's Office of Highway Safety. "Those kids would have had a higher chance of surviving had they been buckled up." 

To help parents and caregivers in Idaho select the right car seats for their children, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will hold free car seat-check events. Call to make an appointment for any of the following events:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 16, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Walmart, 2470 Pullman Road, Moscow (no appointment necessary)
  • Thursday, Sept. 17, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m., Kootenai Health, Coeur d'Alene, (208) 625-4642
  • Thursday, Sept. 17, Noon – 3:30 p.m., Meridian Fire Dept. Station #3, 3545 N Locust Grove Rd, (208) 888-1234
  • Saturday, Sept. 19, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Kohl's Meridian store, Eagle Rd & Ustick, (208) 381-9000

Magic Valley SafeKids is offering a car-seat check:

  • Saturday, Sept. 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Con Paulos, 251 E. Frontage Rd. S., Jerome (no appointment necessary)

Motor-vehicle crashes are a leading killer of children ages 1 to 13. Jenkins said using age- and size-appropriate child restraints are the best way to reduce these deaths.

"Every 34 seconds, a child under the age of 13 is involved in a crash," said Jenkins. "Car seats, booster seats, and seat belts are often used incorrectly, but no parent ever wants to get it wrong when it comes to his or her child's safety. That's why we're hosting these consumer-education events during National Child Passenger Safety Week. Parents can know for sure that their kids are as safe as possible when riding in a car."

"When children under seven years old grow out of car seats, their greatest risk is not being placed in booster seats," Jenkins added. "Booster seats can save lives and are as important as any of the other restraints. And, they're available for as little as $20." 

Child Passenger Safety Week is dedicated to teaching parents and caregivers the importance of correctly installing and using car seats, booster seats and seat belts. It is important to register car seats with the manufacturer so parents can be notified in the event of a recall.

NHTSA recommends keeping children rear-facing as long as possible up to the top height or weight allowed by their particular seats. Once a child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness. After outgrowing the car seats, children should be placed in booster seats until they are big enough to fit seat belts properly without help from a booster seat.

The safest place for all kids under 13 is in the back seat of the car.

For more information on child car safety, go to safercar.gov/parents or http://itd.idaho.gov/ohs/ChildSafety/index.html

Published 09-11-15