Child Passenger Safety Week is Sept. 18-24

POLSON — Sept. 18-24 is “Child Passenger Safety Week” and Sept. 24 is “National Seat Check Saturday.” Lake County Coalition is hosting a car seat check- up event on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Wal-Mart in Polson from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We urge everyone to help reduce injuries and the tragic loss of life by buckling up themselves and their children — every trip, every time.

Children are our future. As parents and caregivers it is our responsibility to keep America’s children safe. Every day in 2009, an average of two children age 12 and younger were killed and an average of 340 were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes as occupants of passenger vehicles. For children ages one through 12, it is the leading cause of death. It is hard to overstate the toll this takes on families, but together we can put an end to this tragedy.

Today, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require that children be restrained in motor vehicles. These laws were enacted because of the tremendous safety benefits they provide. Research shows car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for children younger than one and by 54 percent for children one to four years old. We know that car seats help save lives and reduce injuries. We also know they are most effective when installed and used correctly. Sadly, nearly three out of four car seats are not used properly. Starting now, we must work together to prevent these unnecessary deaths and injuries.

That is why Buckle Up Montana Lake County Coalition is committed to working closely with our partners and safety advocates to help you make the kind of choices that will keep your kids alive and safe. Our goal is to educate parents and caregivers about best practice when traveling with children from birth through age 12. During Child Passenger Safety Week hundreds of free car seat inspection stations will be set up across the country. We encourage all parents and caregivers to take advantage of this service and ensure that their children are getting the very best protection. To locate an inspection station in your area, please go to www.nhtsa.gov