Magic Valley Safe Kids Coalition Reminds Parents to Use Proper Booster Seats

Date: February 16, 2006

Every year children suffer needless injury. Safe Kids of the Magic Valley is joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ad Council and others around Valentine’s Day this year to commemorate Child Passenger Safety Week. The primary goal this year is to remind all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are less than 4’9” tall, they need to be in a booster seat. 

“Many parents are under the false impression that children who have outgrown child safety seats can move right into regular safety belts, but nothing could be further from the truth,” stresses Page Geske, Director of the Magic Valley Safe Kids Coalition. “So this year during Child Passenger Safety Week, we are working hard to remind all parents, grandparents, and child care providers to use a booster seat to raise their kids to the right height in the car. If they’re under 4’9” tall, put them in a booster seat.” 

Only an estimated 10 percent to 20 percent of children ages 4 to 8 use booster seats. According to NHTSA, motor vehicle traffic accidents are the leading cause of death for persons ages 3 through 33 years. A study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia shows that children who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a safety belt. 

For child passenger safety, parents and caregivers simply need to follow 4 Steps for Kids:
1. Use rear-facing infant seats in the back seat from birth to at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds;

2. Use forward-facing toddler seats in the back seat from age one and 20 pounds to about age four and 40 pounds;

3. Use booster seats in the back seat from about age four to at least age eight—unless the child is 4’ 9” or taller; and

4. Use safety belts in the back seat at age eight or older or taller than 4’ 9”. 

“Use a booster seat because you love them,” said Geske. And adults should remember to buckle up, too. There is a positive relationship between drivers who use safety belts and children being restrained. Ninety-two percent of the children who were transported by belted drivers were restrained compared to only 62 percent of the children transported by unbelted drivers. It is imperative to remember all children under age 13 should ride in the back seat. For more information about Child Passenger Safety visit www.boosterseat.gov or call the Magic Valley Safe Kids office at 737-2433.

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(News Editors: For more information contact Jody Tremblay, MVRMC Community Relations Department, 208-737-2943.)