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SFD National Child Passenger Safety Week

SFD provided free car seats in 2013 for qualified families in need

SFD provided free car seats in 2013 for qualified families in need

Sedona AZ (September 15, 2014) – In support of National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 14-20, the Sedona Fire District will be partnering with West Sedona School Head Start on September 18, 2014. Taking advantage of a student screening day, this will be an opportunity for SFD’s three nationally certified car seat technicians to meet directly with parents and caregivers for the purpose of conducting car seat inspections, education regarding proper installation, and, to provide car seats to those whose incomes qualify.

Deniece Gonzales, Family Advocate with Head Start, speaking for the SFD partnership, “This bring awareness to our families on the well-being and safety of our children – we are helping keep our young children safe.”

After receiving a recent car seat grant from the Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, SFD’s Fire Inspector Kevin Sullivan stated, “This is an opportunity to directly connect with our target audience and to strengthen existing community partnerships for the purpose of real risk reduction, or more specifically, to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths in our communities.”

SFD’s Community Risk Management Division has installed over 61 car seats in 2014 alone – an increase over previous years, which is a direct result from strengthened partnerships such as the one with Head Start.

childrenSullivan has internally challenged fellow SFD members to inform and educate at least one person in the community this week concerning their ongoing Child Passenger Safety Campaign. This program provides no-cost car seat inspections and can provide a car seat to those who may income qualify. SFD encourages parents, caregivers, and grandparents to schedule an appointment by calling phone number (928) 282-6800.

Notable statistics as provided by NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Safe Kids Worldwide are as follows:

The Bad News

  •  Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old
  • From 2008-2012, over 3,390 children were killed in motor vehicle collisions
  • In 2012 (on average) nearly 2 children under the age of 13 were killed and 332 were injured every day while riding in cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs
  • In 2012, over one third (37%) of children killed in car crashes were not in car seats, booster seats, seat belts, etc.
  • Every 34 seconds, one child is involved in a crash
  • 73% of car seats are not used or installed correctly

The Good News

  • In 2012 alone, for children under 5, an estimate of 284 lives were saved by child restraints. *An additional 58 children could have lived if car seats were used.
  • Car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers
  • In Arizona, it is the law for children to be in a child restraint!

Sullivan reinforces that effective prevention and community risk reduction takes a multifaceted approach; please help in doing your part to keep our communities safe and to prevent unnecessary injuries and deaths.

Great resources for additional information:

Safe Kids Worldwide – every parent should know this as a resource www.safekids.org
NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration –Safety Tips http://www.nhtsa.gov

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