Child Passenger Safety Seat Checkpoint Held at Brentwood Library
Thursday, August 13, 2009 | 01:37am
Tennessee Highway Patrol & Southern Hills Family Practice Team Up to Save Lives
NASHVILLE --- While children across the mid-state area are heading back to school, many parents are working out their carpool responsibilities. One thing all parents and caregivers need to remember is to properly buckle up kids of all ages. To help answer questions and demonstrate how to properly restrain a child, the Tennessee Highway Patrol has partnered with Southern Hills Family Medicine of Brentwood to host a child passenger safety seat checkpoint on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Brentwood Library, located at 8109 Concord Road.
Held to coincide with Brentwood Library’s pre-school story time, the safety seat checkpoint allows parents the opportunity to ensure car seats and booster seats are properly installed in their vehicles by a Tennessee State Trooper. Troopers will also answer questions about Tennessee’s child passenger safety laws, while staff from South Hills Family Medicine will be available to address any safety and health concerns. THP mascot Tenny C. Bear and Ollie the Otter, the booster seat and seatbelt safety mascot, will also attend to aid in the effort to increase awareness about the importance of using booster seats and seatbelts.
“With children of all ages returning to schools, pre-K classrooms and day care facilities, many carpools are also back in operation. Knowing who needs to use a car seat, a booster seat or a safety belt is key to keeping your child safe,” said THP Special Programs Lieutenant Tony Barham. “The Tennessee Highway Patrol is pleased to work with community partners, including the skilled medical staff at Southern Hills Family Medicine and volunteers with the Ollie Otter program, to make sure children are protected every time they ride in a vehicle.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 to 14, due in large part to the nonuse or improper use of child seats and seat belts. NHTSA also finds that the use of booster seats compared to the use of adult seatbelts alone lowers the risk of injury to children in crashes by 59 percent.
“I’ve seen far too many cases of children sustaining injuries as a result of motor vehicle crashes, and nationally, vehicle crashes remain the number one killer of children”, said Shannon McDonald, MD, Southern Hills Family Medicine of Brentwood. “By taking the time to make sure your child is secured properly, you’re taking the preventative steps to greatly reduce the risks associated crashes and your child becoming a statistic.”
THP Child Passenger Safety Seat Check
The following are child passenger safety tips that you can use to protect your family:
- Every person on every ride must use a car seat, booster seat or safety belt that’s right for his or her weight and height.
- All children under age 13 must ride in a back seat.
- Know where the airbags are in your vehicles. They can be in the front seat, on the roofline or in a back seat. Some airbags can be turned off.
- Follow manufacturers’ instructions for car seats, booster seats and vehicle safety at all times.
- Do not allow your child to ride in vehicles where drivers or passengers do not use safety restraints.
- Don’t share safety belts. Use one safety belt for each person in the car. Never let the child place the safety belt behind his arm.
- Weigh and measure children often to be sure they are using the right safety device.
- Never use car seats purchased from yard sales, secondhand stores or flea markets. Replace any child safety seat that has been involved in a crash.
- Never let children ride on laps or in cargo areas or pickup truck beds.
- Set a good example by always wearing your own seat belt.
The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.TN.Gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.