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Buckle Up for a Safe Summer
As the school year comes to a close, the Coastal Health District and Georgia Department of Community Health's (DCH) Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response encourages families to start their summer vacations safely by buckling up the whole family.
Today's children and youth are "The Safest Generation." They are smart about safety, having grown up learning more about safety and using more safety products than any generation before them.
"Despite the advances in science and technology and what we all know about car safety, seat belt use starts to decline in the preteen years," said Dr. Patrick O'Neal, Director of Georgia's Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response. "Wearing a seat belt is a simple way to stay safe, and every parent can make a difference by reinforcing that message every day."
Car crashes are the leading cause of death and injury-related hospitalizations among children ages 5-17 in Georgia. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008, seat belts saved over 13,000 lives nationwide - enough people to fill a large sports area. In addition, booster seats reduce injuries by 59 percent. But seat belts and booster seats can't save lives unless they are used correctly, every trip, every time.
To start your summer vacation right, promote safety every time you ride in the car. Try these strategies to get your kids to buckle up:
Set a good example - buckle up for every ride
- Preteens still tend to follow their parents' rules and examples
Encourage them to be a role model for younger kids
Use a booster seat for most elementary school age kids
- Most kids need a booster seat until they are 4'9", usually between ages 8-12
- Seat belts are designed for an average adult male. For a proper fit, the lap belt should sit low on the hips and below the stomach and the shoulder belt should lay across the middle of the chest and away from the neck.
Reward them - let them pick the radio station, if they buckle up right in the back seat
- NEVER put the shoulder belt under the child's arm or behind the child's back as this increases the risk of internal injuries and head, neck, and spinal cord injuries
- Keep all children under age 13 in the back seat to avoid airbag dangers
Let them own the back seat and store their things there
And finally, remind all kids, teens and adults in the car that it's the law to buckle up, so, "Click It or Ticket."
For more information on Georgia's Injury Prevention Program, please call (404) 463-6112 or visit online at www.health.state.ga.us or www.gahighwaysafety.org