Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act Supports Realistic Strategies to Combat Accidental Deaths to Children
Safe Kids Buckle Up Offers Families Hands-on Educational Activities to Increase Knowledge about Safety In and Around Vehicles
WASHINGTON, Feb. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act signed into law today will provide critical information about the circumstances surrounding non-traffic related deaths to children as well as help develop a multi-faceted approach, including important technological solutions, that will lead to preventing many needless injuries and deaths, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.
Although the majority of deaths to children involving motor vehicles involve traffic crashes, more than 10 percent of the deaths are not traffic-related. Non-traffic-related vehicle incidents are those that occur somewhere other than a public highway, street or road -- for example, when children are struck by vehicles in parking lots or driveways or when they are left unattended in vehicles.
Nationwide, from 2001-2003, almost 2,500 children per year ages 1-14 went to emergency rooms with injuries from a vehicle backing up. During that same period, the CDC reported on average 229 fatal injuries per year for children ages 1-14.
However, these statistics are far from complete as there is no centralized surveillance system for deaths that are not crash related. "This law calls for a publicly searchable database that will give us far more information on the circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and injuries," said Torine Creppy, Director of the Safe Kids Buckle Up program. "Only when we have a true accounting of the depth and breadth of the dangers facing our children can we develop the most comprehensive solution that will keep kids out of the emergency room."
Safe Kids Worldwide, in partnership with General Motors, already offers vehicle safety programs beyond car seats and crash protection through the Safe Kids Buckle Up program. Hands-on educational activities such as Spot the Tot(SM), Never Leave Your Child Alone and Preventing Trunk Entrapment stress that vehicles are not toys and children should never be alone in or around them. More than 600 local Safe Kids coalitions and chapters offer these interactive programs to families across the United States . One innovative way that these programs are delivered by Safe Kids coalitions is through the Cub Scouts' Automotive Safety Patch initiative.
"Safe Kids has committed to the educational process that is the foundation of any good public health program," said Alan Korn , director of public policy for Safe Kids Worldwide. "We have a series of programs proven to increase the vehicle safety knowledge of both children and their parents as well as a highly trained network of child safety experts in communities across the country. Safe Kids is prepared to assist the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as it moves forward in developing the educational program required in this law."
About Safe Kids Buckle Up
Safe Kids Buckle Up(R) is a national program developed by Safe Kids Worldwide and sponsored by General Motors Foundation and Chevrolet to educate parents and caregivers about the importance of properly restraining children on every ride. Since 1997, the program has inspected more than 920,000 car seats; held approximately 45,000 car seat checkup events around the country; donated approximately 365,000 car seats to families in need and educated more than 13 million parents and caregivers. For more information visit:
About General Motors
General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit , GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM's OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at http://www.gm.com.
SPOT THE TOT(SM) is a service mark of Primary Children's Medical Center Foundation.
SOURCE Safe Kids Worldwide
