Child Safety In and Around Cars

Featuring: Lorrie Walker – Safe Kids Worldwide

Tracy Whitman - Maryland Kids In Safety SeatsMeg Miller - Maryland Highway Safety Office    

Wednesday February 21,2007

This conference call is sponsored in part by a grant from the Maryland Highway Safety Office/ State Highway Administration

Children In and Around Cars Children In and Around Cars

Lorrie Walker

Safe Kids Buckle Up: Providing simultaneous safety messages to parents and kids February 2007

Identified risks to children in and around cars

Identified risks to children in and around cars

• Vehicle backovers

• Improper restraint: boosters/belts

• Children left alone in vehicles

• Trunk entrapment

• Post-crash help

Parent/child education effortParent/child education effort

• Use existing group where parents are routinely involved: Cub Scouts

• Reach target audience of both kids ages 8-10 and parents/caregivers

• Offer an incentive to the kids: Cub Scout patch

• Make it fun: 5 fast paced safety stations

• Provide food: pizza works!

Program DetailsProgram Details• Held at Chevrolet

Dealership• Passports to record height

and weight (kids)• Pre-test (kids)/Post-test

(kids)• Evaluation (parents,

dealership, cub scout leader)

• Safe Kids/Cub Scout Patch• Outcome evaluation:

Interviews with dealers, scout leaders, coalitions

• 5 Stations• Safety belt fit test• Spot the Tot• Trunk Entrapment• Never Leave Your

Child Alone• OnStar

• Total program time:• Approximately 1 hour

and 15 minutes

Program ComponentsProgram Components

Educational Stations• Round Robin approach: 5 groups of

kids/parents rotate through all stations• Small groups (about 5-7 kids) to assure

individualized attention• Simple pre and post tests to measure gained

knowledge• Parent/Caregiver participation is essential• Passports stamped at each station

Using Technicians and VolunteersUsing Technicians and Volunteers

One Certified CPS Technician and volunteer must be at each station

• Technicians lead the teaching portion at each station

• Volunteers assist technicians, facilitate parents/children moving from station to station, weigh and measure the children, and organize survey taking.

Kids, Parents, Community Kids, Parents, Community PILOTS:• 255 Parents• 271 Cub Scouts• 117 Volunteers• 9 Cities

• Englewood, CO• Charlotte, NC• Dallas, TX• Rogers, MN• San Diego, CA• Franklin, TN• Escondido, CA• Nutley, NJ• West Bloomfield, MI

Spot The Tot: Vehicle BackoversSpot The Tot: Vehicle BackoversSpot The Tot: parent sits in vehicle

driver seat; kids line up behind vehicle; driver identifies first child seen- visual demonstration of “blind spots” and need to “walk around” before entering vehicle.

Key Messages• KIDS: Play in places away from

cars including in driveways, parking lots and streets.

• PARENTS: Do a complete “walk around” your car before entering. Look for kids, toys and pets.

Safety Belt Fit Test: Boosters or Belts?

Safety Belt Fit Test: Boosters or Belts?

Key Messages

• KIDS: Kids are safer and more comfortable in a booster seat until the seat belt fits properly. Use a back seat.

• PARENTS: Do the “safety belt fit test” on each child you transport; “test” your child in cars where he rides. Be prepared to use a booster in a back seat for every ride.

Never Leave Your Child AloneNever Leave Your Child Alone

Key Messages• KIDS: Remind adults

that it is not safe for you to be left alone in a car.

• PARENTS: It is not safe for kids to be left alone in cars-even for a few minutes. Call 911 if you see unattended children.

Trunk EntrapmentTrunk EntrapmentKey Messages• KIDS: Trunks are for

cargo. Never play in or near cars. Know how to use the trunk release pull in newer cars in an emergency.

• PARENTS: Keep keys and remote entry fobs away from kids. Keep cars locked.

OnStar Emergency ResponseOnStar Emergency Response

Key Messages• KIDS: You may hear a

voice after a crash; talk to the OnStar person.

• PARENTS: OnStar has many functions-know how to use them before an emergency.

The Cub Scout PatchThe Cub Scout Patch

• Designed by Cub Scouts of America, Chevrolet and Safe Kids

• Earned after completing all 5 passport safety stations

• Distributed after kids took post-test

Parent EvaluationParent Evaluation

Evaluation• 81% Excellent program• 99% felt kids learned

Suggestions:• Keep event small

• Expand to include girls and other audiences

• Use indoor facility due to weather issues

Next StepsNext Steps

• Use this model for CPS Week 2007 and evaluate results (general population)

• Teach parents that proper restraint in a vehicle is just as important for older children as it is for infants and toddlers.

• Offer grants to coalitions/chapters to continue to offer this education

• Provide quality materials for future programming

Pediatricians: Anticipatory Guidance

Pediatricians: Anticipatory Guidance

• Encourage parents to:• Use boosters for kids >40 lbs and up to 4’9” and

weights between 80-100 lbs; back seat message

• Know where all kids are playing- away from cars

• Develop the “walk around” habit before entering the car- look for kids, toys and pets

• Keep cars locked and keys away from kids

• Never leave kids alone in a vehicle- even for a few minutes

Visit Safe Kids Worldwide via WebVisit Safe Kids Worldwide via Web

• Find a coalition to help you educate your families

• Obtain materials

• Find an inspection station

• Learn about risk areas other than traffic• Drowning, pedestrian, home safety, fire

www.usa.safekids.org

Proper Restraints

Proper Positions

Booster Seat Recommendations

Tracy Whitman

Maryland Kids in Safety Seats

Proper Restraints

• Reduce the risk of injury/death by improving fit of restraints for children too small for adult-sized belt

• Afford a mechanical protection advantage over seat belts

Specifically, Restraints

• Prevent ejection• Better distribution of crash forces on

stronger parts of the child’s body• Limits crash forces experienced by

occupant • Limit the contact of occupant with intruding

vehicle structures

BUT, you have to chose the right one

Consider the Infant/Child

• Large, heavy head• Weak neck/back• Immature skeletal

system• Flexible, narrow

shoulders• Small, round pelvis

Rear-facing… How they Protect

• Crash forces are distributed over the entire trunk

• Spine is subject to less extreme forces of flexion and fewer fractures and dislocations*

• Less trauma to the brain as the whiplash motion is reduced (The brain is the least likely to recover from injury**)

*Source: Pediatrics, November 2000

**Source: Partners for Child Passenger Safety, Maryland Fact Sheet, quoting statistics from Pediatrics, June 2002, updated in 2003.

Recommendations

AAP recommends

• To the maximum weight or height of the rear-facing convertible seat for OPTIMAL protection. (30-35 pounds)*

Many safety experts state:

• Children should ride rear facing until they are 18-24 months.

*Minimum recommendations are one year old and 20 pounds

Forward-facing… How they Protect

• Crash forces are distributed over the entire trunk

• Harness allows for better energy distribution– Dissipates crash forces over the stronger

parts of the body– Lessens the crash force on weaker

bones/muscles of the child’s body– Keeps them “in position”

RecommendationsAAP recommends • To maximum harness weight limit to 40-65

pounds

• To maximum harness height limit: Move to Combination or Forward-facing only seat for taller shoulder slots

Many safety experts state: • Children who have outgrown 40 pound harness

systems before 3-4 years old or extremely active should use a higher harness system (to 50-65 pounds)

Proper Position-The Back Seat

For children who are the sole passengers at the time of a crash:

• 30% of 4- to 8-year-olds • 73% of 9- to 12-year-olds

were in the front seat

A child’s risk of injury is reduced by 40% of moved from the front seat to back seat*

* Source: Partners for Child Passenger Safety, CPS Issue Report, May 2005

Recommendation

• The safest place for all infants and children younger than 13 years is in the back seat, appropriately restrained.

Booster Seats…How they Protect

• Pre-crash positioners

• Raise small children up

• Re-position lap belts off the soft belly onto the hip/upper thigh bones

• Re-position shoulder belt across the center of the chest, resting on the collarbone

Recommendations

AAP recommends• A forward-facing seat, a combination seat, or a belt-

positioning booster seat should be used when the child has outgrown a convertible safety seat but is too small to use the vehicle’s safety belts

• Vehicle safety belts should not be used until the shoulder belt can be positioned across the chest with the lap belt low and snug across the thighs, the child should fit against the vehicle’s seat back with his or her feet hanging down when the legs are bent at the knees.

• A belt-positioning booster seat should be used until the vehicle safety belt fits well

Many safety experts state:

• 5-Step Test

• Height of 4’9”

5-Step Test*

• Does the child sit all the way back against the vehicle seat?

• Doe the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the vehicle seat?

• Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

• Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

• Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

* Source: Safety Belt Safe

4 Feet 9 Inches

• When children outgrow a toddler seat, they need to use a booster seat along with a lap and shoulder belt until they stand 4 feet, 9 inches tall*

* Source: NHTSA

Maryland Resources

Meg Miller

Maryland Highway Safety Office

February 21, 2007

What you’ve heard so far…

Choosing the correct restraint and basics about seating positions for each child passenger

Now find out…

local and state resources to learn more!

Maryland CPS Law

Effective October 1, 2003• All children younger than six years old and

weighing less than 40 pounds must ride in a federally approved child safety restraint system according to manufacturers’ instructions.*

• Must meet BOTH criteria before being moved out of a safety belt and into an adult seat belt.

• Child restraint must be correct for the child’s size, weight, and age.

*includes infant, convertible, forward-facing, booster, or other federally approved child restraints

Maryland’s CPS Laws, continued

• A person may not transport a child younger than 16 years of age unless the child is secured in a child safety seat or a vehicle’s seat belt in all seating positions in all vehicles.

• A child younger than 16 years may not ride in an unenclosed cargo bed of a pick-up truck.

Okay, so now the kids are all set…what about the adults?

• Sometimes adults don’t wear their seat belts correctly, and this lessens their effectiveness.

Lap belts…

• Should be worn below the waistline, against the hips and thighs—never across the stomach.

Shoulder belts…

• Should be snug across the chest and against the collarbone—never under your arm or behind your back!

So what’s next?

• If you have any questions, need help with a safety seat installation, or know someone who needs a safety seat or booster seat…

• You have a fantastic statewide resource, Maryland Kids In Safety Seats (KISS).

KISS

Can be reached via phone toll-free at

1-800-370-SEAT

or

www.mdkiss.org

Additional Online Resources

• MIEMSS CPS Hospital Project: www.miemss.org/EMSCwww

• Safe Kids Worldwide:www.safekids.org

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

• SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.: www.carseat.org

• Safe Ride News: www.saferidenews.org

Online Resources, cont’d

• National Child Passenger Safety Board: www.cpsboard.org

• Partners for Child Passenger Safety: http://traumalink.chop.edu

• American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org

Other Resources:• Maryland Highway Safety Office, 410-787-4077• Safe Kids Maryland Coalition, 410-787-5893• CPS Hospital Project at MIEMSS, 410-706-8647

• Many local health departments have Injury Prevention Coordinators or local KISS programs; contact MD KISS to find out where your local resources are!

Thank you for your time and your interest Thank you for your time and your interest in Child Passenger Safety !in Child Passenger Safety !

Certificate of participation will be mailed to those completing the online conference feedback form

which will be available on the websitewww.miemss.org/EMSCwww/CPSHome.htm

Or by emailing cps@miemss.org

QuestionsQuestions