Kids Safety Bulletin Auto Safety   by Don C. Keenan

When we think of dangers in the lives of our kids, we may forget the most obvious danger of all – automobiles.  Consider the follow statistics:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional death of children under the age of 14, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign.
  
  
• In 2005, more than 1,400 child occupants (ages 0-14) died in motor vehicle crashes and nearly half were unrestrained. In the same year, 203,000 child occupants were injured.  (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) 

Who is at risk?

According to information provided by the National Safe Kids Campaign –

• There are approximately 42 percent more fatal crashes in rural settings than urban ones. Crashes in rural areas tend to be more severe.
  
  
• There were 159 reported fatal injuries associated with airbag deployment that occurred between 1993 and 2002 for children 0 to 12 years of age.  All of these children were either unrestrained or improperly restrained.
  
  
• Children 2 to 5 years of age who are prematurely in seat belts are four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury in a crash than those restrained in child safety seats or booster seats.

Below are a few tips you can follow to keep your children safe:

• Children under the age of 12 should always be property restrained in the back seat of the automobile.
  
  
• For instructions on what type of car seat will work best for your child’s age and height, visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov .
  
  
• Even when children are old enough to ride in the front seat, it is important to turn off the passenger side airbag.
  
  
• Remember that children are killed in non-traffic accidents as well, such as back over deaths.  The average vehicle has a 12 foot blind spot and SUVs have 15 foot blind spots.  Get visual confirmation to assure that all children are away from the car before you start driving.

Don Keenan, founder of the Keenan’s Kids Foundation, has published a book on kid’s safety titled, 365 Ways to Keep Kids Safe, which is available at www.balloonpress.com or at www.amazon.com     Proceeds benefit the Keenan’s Kids Foundation. 

This article originally published on May 5, 2008.

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