NEWS RELEASE
February 11, 1999

Department of Community Health Urges Parents to Use Car Seats Correctly

Michigan SAFE KIDS Coalition Receives National Award

Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr., and the Michigan SAFE KIDS Campaign today released the results of a national study on car seat misuse in Michigan. The finding revealed that simple mistakes made by parents and care givers when using car seats in Michigan remain a common phenomenon and mirror earlier research which finds four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly. The Michigan Department of Community Health is the lead agency for Michigan SAFE KIDS, which was established in Lansing in 1995.

"Injury is the leading cause of death to children of all ages," said Haveman. "Car seats are extremely effective when correctly used and installed, reducing the risk of death by 71 percent for infants under age one and by 54 percent for toddlers ages one to four."

The study, the most comprehensive look at car seat misuse to date, analyzed car seat observation data obtained at car seat inspections in Michigan from July 1997 to November 1998 through the SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP initiative. This program was designed to educate parents and care givers through hands-on Car Seat Check Up events and educational efforts about child passenger safety. The study identified the most common misuses of car seats in Michigan.

Through Car Seat Check-Up events in Michigan, 560 car seats were inspected to determine if the parent or care giver was using them properly. Of these 560 car seats, 86% or 481 car seats were misused. The most common misuses for rear and forward-facing seats include, in 292 cases the safety belt was not holding the seat in tightly, in 168 cases the harness straps were not snug, and in 98 cases the harness straps were not routed correctly.

"We are concerned to find that car seat misuse continues to plague unknowing parents and care givers," said Haveman. "These seemingly small mistakes can potentially lead to tragic consequences for children. We ask parents and care givers to take the time to learn how to correctly use a car seat in order to protect the lives of Michigan's children."

The study was released in observance of Child Passenger Safety Week, a national initiative that works to reduce the more than 1,800 deaths to children ages 14 and under who are killed as passengers in motor vehicle crashes and the estimated 280,000 more who are injured each year. Although the misuse data are disturbing, of even greater concern are the approximately 40 percent of children nationwide who still ride completely unrestrained.

During Child Passenger Safety Week, the Department of Community Health and the Michigan SAFE KIDS Coalition will increase public awareness about the importance of properly restraining children on every ride. As part of the Campaign's partnership with General Motors through SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP, Coalitions also will host Car Seat Check Ups at sites statewide to teach parents and care givers about proper car seat installation.

Car Seat Check Ups will be held in Michigan at the following locations: .

• Lansing, February 18, at Glenn Buege Buick, Inc, 3625 S. Pennsylvania, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Ypsilanti, February 18, at University Chevrolet, 770 James L. Hart Parkway which can be accessed off I-94 exit 183, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Farmington Hills, February 20, at Bob Sellers Pontiac/GMC at the corner of Grand River and 10 mile, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Parents should bring their child in their car seat to these inspections. Persons interested in obtaining a brochure on car seat safety should call 1-800-626-4636.

The national study examined more than 17,000 car seats observed at Car Seat Check Up events held over a 17-month period from July 1997 to November 1998. The form that was used to analyze each seat covered over 40 elements of correct use, including age-appropriateness of restraint, installation of the seat into the vehicle, and child's fit in the seat. Participants were invited to bring their car seats to be checked at the Check Up events. Therefore, the nationally-estimated 40 percent of children who ride unrestrained are under represented in this sample.

Michigan SAFE KIDS Coalition is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the first and only national organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury - the number one killer of children age 14 and under. General Motors is the SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP program sponsor, investing $10.6 million in a five-year effort to promote child passenger safety.

The Michigan SAFE KIDS coalition recently received the Outstanding State Coalition Award for 1998 at the National SAFE KIDS Campaign Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The award included a $500 gift to support the continuing efforts of the coalition to prevent childhood injuries. The Coalition was recognized for establishing new local coalitions in Washtenaw County, Flint and Lansing and new chapters in nine rural communities, including two in American Indian communities.

Michigan SAFE KIDS was also recognized for its statewide distribution of injury prevention information to parents and care givers, which included a public service announcement on child passenger safety with First Lady Michelle Engler, who serves as Honorary Chair of Michigan SAFE KIDS and Mrs. Jane Abraham, Honorary Chair of Metro Detroit SAFE KIDS and wife of Senator Spencer Abraham.

Michigan SAFE KIDS has formed partnerships with law enforcement agencies, fire departments, local public health departments, American Indian communities, neighborhood associations, migrant Head Start centers and local SAFE KIDS groups to distribute 500 bicycle helmets, nearly 300 car seats and 600 smoke alarms to low income families.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
February 11, 1999 (517) 241-2112