Elizabethtown, NC – With nearly 200 million drivers on U.S. roadways, chances are high that most
American drivers will experience car crashes during their lifetimes. While the majority of the nearly 6.5
million car crashes a year are non-fatal, even minor fender benders can have a significant impact on
children, particularly those who are unrestrained. In a push to increase car seat and seat belt use, and in
recognition of Child Passenger Safety Week, Safe Kids Bladen urges parents and caregivers to model safe
driving habits, including buckling up – every person, every ride, every time.
“Parents are role models for their kids in multiple ways, but especially in the car,” said Travis Greer,
Coalition Coordinator “Using a seat belt every time you are in the car will help children learn a life-saving
habit that will impact their lives for years to come.”
Children learn by example: they see whether parents and caregivers are buckling up, texting while
driving or speeding. By about two years of age, as children move from rear-facing to forward-facing car
seats, they begin observing and learning how to behave in and around cars. If using a seat belt is not a
priority for the parent, it’s likely not going to be priority for the child. To the point, in 2017, when drivers
involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained, 7 of 10 children in those crashes were also unrestrained
(NHTSA). Thirty-seven percent (37%) of children who died in crashes were not using any restraint, not
even the car’s free seat belt.
In honor of Child Passenger Safety Week, Safe Kids Bladen would like to share that we have two
Permanent Checking Stations (PCS) in the county where parents/caregivers can stop by or call to receive
information about child passenger safety from nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians
and have their car seats and seat belts checked to be sure they are installed and used correctly.
The two Permanent Checking Station locations are:
- Bladen County EMS, 292 Ben Greene Industrial Dr. Elizabethtown, NC Phone: 910-549-7645
- Elizabethtown Fire Department, 401 W Swanzy St. Elizabethtown, NC Phone: 910-862-4586
Safe Kids Bladen also recommends the Ultimate Car Seat Guide to help families learn about properly
using a car seat. The Ultimate Car Seat Guide, a website available in English and Spanish that makes car
seat buying, installing, fitting and changing from one seat to another easier for parents and caregivers to
understand. The Guide, developed with support from Chevrolet, also offers best practices and expert
advice covering all stages of a child’s development, from the first car seat until the child is ready for the
seat belt alone.
About Child Passenger Safety Week – September 15-21
Child Passenger Safety Week is September 15-21 and culminates with National Seat Check Saturday on
September 21. In September, Safe Kids will host more than 450 car seat events and inspection stations across the country, offering guidance from certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians on proper car seat and booster seat installation and usage, with a focus on the use of tethers. Parents and caregivers can visit SafeKids.org to locate an event in their community.
About Safe Kids Bladen
Safe Kids Bladen works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for
children in the United States. Its members include Bladen County EMS, Bladen County Schools, Bladen
County Sheriff’s Department, Bladen County Social Services, Elizabethtown Fire Department, Bladen
County Cooperative Extension and many more. Safe Kids Bladen is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a
global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries. Safe Kids Bladen was
founded in 2011 and is led by Bladen County Health Department. For more information, visit
safekids.org or https://www.facebook.com/safekidsbladen/
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