Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children, partly because nearly 75 percent of them are unbuckled or improperly secured. In an effort to keep local children safe, AAA is partnering with Safe Kids WorldwideTM to hold a summer car seat check for local parents and caregivers.
On Thursday, July 31, 2014, caregivers can stop by the Marion AAA store, 1315 Mount Vernon Avenue, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Last vehicle accepted at 12:30 p.m.).
During this event, certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will perform free child safety seat checks for local parents and caregivers. This will include education on proper techniques to ensure children are safely secured in the vehicle.
The event is free and open to the public. No appointment is necessary. Each inspection will take approximately 30 minutes.
Child Passenger Safety:
Using properly installed car seats instead of seat belts can reduce a child’s risk of injury by up to 82 percent and reduce the risk of death by 28 percent.
Car seats save lives because they contact the strongest parts of a child’s body. During a crash this helps spread the forces over a wide area, help the body slow down and protect the brain and spinal cord. Improperly installed car seats do not have this same effect, and therefore do not adequately protect parents’ most precious cargo.
More child passenger safety information can be found on the AAA Exchange website.
Heat Stroke:
Between 1998 and 2013 more than 600 children died of heatstroke when left in a vehicle. More than half of these deaths occurred when a caregiver forgot about a quiet child.
Even on a cool summer day, temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in just minutes. Children’s bodies can heat up five times faster than adults, making them especially susceptible to heatstroke. That’s why caregivers should never leave a child in the car, even for a minute.
AAA provides more than 54 million members with travel-, insurance-, financial- and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the internet at AAA.com.
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