N.C. SAFE KIDS Partners with Kiwanis Clubs for Child Passenger Safety Week

Nearly 40 SAFE KIDS coalitions and chapters throughout North Carolina with the support of Kiwanis Clubs are sponsoring a statewide Child Passenger Safety Seat Check Saturday, Feb. 14. The seat check, which will be held in 36 locations across the state, is in recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Week, Feb. 8 -14.

The National SAFE KIDS Campaign reports that motor vehicle crashes were the number one killer of children ages 2 to 14 over the past two years. In 2002, 329 children age 4 through 7 and 1,209 children ages 8 through 15 were killed in vehicle crashes. That same year, 58,000 children 4 to 7 years old and 160,000 children age 8 to 15 years old were injured in vehicle crashes.

“These numbers are simply unacceptable, especially knowing that many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented,” said Insurance Commissioner Jim Long. “Proper use of child restraints can keep your child from becoming a statistic.”

With this event being held on Valentine’s Day, Long, who also serves as the NC SAFE KIDS state chairman, encourages parents to show how much they love their children through safety. “It won’t be the first time we’ve highlighted this area, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Every person we educate who changes his or her actions is a potential tragedy prevented.”

Visitors to the Feb. 14 seat checks will be taught the proper usage of safety seats for their children’s height and weight, and certified seat technicians will focus on teaching parents the proper installation and use of these seats. The technicians include representatives from local law enforcement, fire and rescue, health and other social organizations.

This event is part of a new partnership between SAFE KIDS Coalitions of North and South Carolina and the Kiwanis Club.