AMBULANCE DISTRICT OFFERS MONTHLY CAR SEAT CHECKS
EDWARDS, Colo. – Feb. 29, 2004 - Unintentional injuries remain the number one killer of children 14 and under in the United States, despite a 40 percent drop in unintentional injury death rates from 1987 to 2000. One of the largest contributors to that death rate is the incorrect installation and use of car seats.
To help educate parents in the Vail Valley and protect the valley’s children, the Eagle County Health Service District (Eagle County Ambulance District), in conjunction with the Vail Valley Medical Center, is offering free child car seat safety checks on the first Tuesday of each month. The checks are held at the District’s headquarters in Edwards. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2..
“National studies have shown that up to 98% of the car seats on the road are not installed properly. We want to show parents how to put the car seat in so that it offers maximum protection for their child,” said Cathy McRory, Education and Quality Improvement Coordinator for the District.
McRory noted that installing the car seat properly is only half the battle, however. “Particularly in the winter, when kids have heavier clothes and jackets on, parents must make sure the straps are correctly positioned and tightened. Otherwise the straps may not hold the child in the seat in the event of an accident.”
The next car seat check is scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2004 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, please contact the Eagle County Health Service District at 926-5270.
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