KidSafe
What is the KidSafe Program?
The KidSafe Program is an injury prevention program sponsored by the Trauma Center at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation. The KidSafe Program focuses on child passenger safety. The KidSafe Program provides services to children ages 0-16 years of age, as well as, to parents, care givers, school districts, child care centers, and the community in general. All services provided by KidSafe are FREE.
What does the KidSafe Program do?
• Child Passenger Safety Education classes for Parents & Caregivers
• Child Passenger Safety Community Presentations
• “Bucklebear” Presentations for Pre-school & Elementary aged children
• “Booster Seat Molly” Presentations for Elementary School children
• Distribution of Child Passenger Safety Literature
• Child Safety Seat and Booster Seat Check-Up Events
• Child Safety Seat and Booster Seat Distribution
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians have intense hands-on training with child passenger safety seat installations. National certification requires ongoing continuing education and continued seat installation practice at events. Child Passenger Safety Instructors are required to complete additional training and certification.
Why is Child Passenger Safety so Important?
• According to the Nation Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 7,500 lives have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 20 years.
• Motor vehicle crashes are the number on killer of children ages 4 to 14 in America.
• Children ages 4 to 8 who use booster seats are 59% less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a seat belt, according to a study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
• Child safety seats can reduce fatal injury by 71% for rear facing children and 54% for forward facing children, and children ages 4 to 8 who use booster seats are 59% less likely to be injured in a car crash.
Common Child Safety Seat Misuses
• While 96% of parents & caregivers believe their child safety seats are installed correctly, research shows that 7 out of 10 children are improperly restrained.
• At least 3 out of 4 safety seats are unintentionally misused. Partial misuse of a safety seat reduces its effectiveness against severe injuries.
• Parents' top 3 mistakes when installing traditional safety seats include:
1. Failure to secure the seat tightly
2. Failure to secure the harness straps tightly
3. Incorrect positioning of the chest clip
• Never buy a used car seat (garage sales, flea markets, etc.) if you do not know its full history, and never use a car seat that has been in a crash.
• All car seats have an expiration date. Generally, it is six years, but check the labels on the seat or contact the manufacturer of the seat to find out what the expiration date is for your specific car seat.
• Do not use any products in the car seat that did not come from the manufacturer. Car seat fabrics meet strict fire safety codes. Add-on toys can injure your child in a crash.
• To help guard against misuse of safety seats, parents should always:
a. READ seat instructions, labels, and vehicle owner's manual
b. Install the seat tightly (less than 1 inch of movement) & lock the safety belt
c. Position the harness straps tightly
Child Safety Seat Misuse
Misuse of child safety seats is widespread. Studies have found that as many as four out of five car seats are installed or used incorrectly. Read both your child safety seat instruction manual and your motor vehicle owner’s manual for direction on proper installation and placement of your seat. Contact KidSafe for questions on installation. Check to see if your seat has been recalled, or for additional correct usage guidelines, go to www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
Contact Us: | Child Safety Seat Class Schedule: |
Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Hamilton, Lampasas, Mills Counties & Se Habla Espanol: 254-202-6536Freestone, Hill, Johnson, Leon, Limestone, & Navarro Counties: | Hillcrest Baptist Medical CenterHerring Avenue Campus1st Wednesday of the Month (Evening)3rd Monday of the Month (Daytime)Providence Hospital2nd Thursday of the month (Evening)*To attend the classes, Registration Is Required, Please call 254-202-8605 |
