98% Of United States Children Ages 8 Years and Under Are Improperly Restrained In Car Seats -- Washoe County Mirrors a 98% Misuse Rate

REMSA And SAFE KIDS Washoe County Team With Krispy Kreme Doughnuts To Emphasize Correct Child Safety Seat Usage During National Child Passenger Safety Week

February 10, 2003 – Keeping children safe on the road means placing them in the right restraint at the right age. In honor of nationally recognized Child Passenger Safety Week, February 8-14, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has joined REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority) and SAFE KIDS Washoe County in making sure parents and childcare providers know and follow the 4 Steps for Kids.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages four to 14. According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, more than 1,600 children die each year and an estimated 248,000 are seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes due to being improperly restrained. Less than 10% of children use booster seats and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children who have outgrown child safety seats must be properly restrained in booster seats in the back seat until they are at least eight years old, or 80 pounds and 4’9” tall.

For more than five years, REMSA has been educating parents and families in the community about how to properly restrain their children in car seats through their Point of Impact child safety seat checkpoints and safety education program. Krispy Kreme has joined REMSA and SAFE KIDS Washoe County as a corporate sponsor to show their support and provide families with children 8 years and younger an incentive to participate in REMSA’s Point of Impact checkpoints and register their child to win a Nevada Prepaid Tuition scholarship.

“We at Krispy Kreme are dedicated to promoting child safety and instilling the importance of a good education,” said Lincoln Spoor, area developer of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Nevada, Utah and Idaho. “We are very excited about awarding this scholarship to a local child for their participation in REMSA’s SAFE KIDS Washoe County program.”

Community participation skyrocketed in 2002, with a total of 1,633 child safety seats being inspected at the checkpoints. On Friday, February 14, REMSA, SAFE KIDS Washoe County, corporate sponsor, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and the State Treasurer, Brian Krolicki, will present the child scholarship winner of the On the Road To College Nevada Prepaid Tuition at 11 a.m. at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. REMSA, SAFE KIDS Washoe County and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts are encouraging all families with children 8 years and under to follow the 4 Steps for Kids:

1. REAR-FACING INFANT SEATS – rear facing in the back seat from birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds
2. FORWARD-FACING TODDLER SEATS – in the back seat from age one to about four and 20 to 40 pounds
3. BOOSTER SEATS -in the back seat from about age four and 40 pounds to at least age eight, unless 4’9” and 80 pounds
4. SAFETY BELTS - at age eight or older or taller than 4’9”. All children 12 and under should ride in the back seat with a vehicle lap/shoulder belt

“Children’s safety is crucial,” said Eric Guevin, Director of Community Education for REMSA and Director of SAFE KIDS Washoe County. “Knowing how to properly restrain your child is one of the most important things you can do as a parent to protect your child. It saves lives and helps prevent unintentional injuries.”

In a related Child Passenger Safety Week promotion, KTVN Channel 2 and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts will give away four child safety seats Monday - Friday during their morning show at 6:25 a.m. In addition, on Friday, February 14, Valentine’s Day, Krispy Kreme will be rolling out their doughnut dipping station and encouraging the community to come dip a doughnut for their sweetheart.

Child Passenger Safety Week is a national effort designed to draw attention to ways to keep young passengers safe in motor vehicles. For a detailed synopsis of the 4 Steps for Kids or more information about Child Passenger Safety or to meet with Eric Guevin, Director of Community Education for REMSA and Director of SAFE KIDS Washoe County, please call Tanya McLain of KPS|3 at (775) 686-2116.

REMSA is a private, not-for-profit emergency medical services system serving northern Nevada and Care Flight is a division under REMSA that also serves northeastern California. REMSA’s state-of-the art 9-1-1 dispatch communications center is fully accredited, as are all emergency medical transport services of the company. REMSA and Care Flight provide quality patient care with no taxpayer support or other subsidies.

450 Edison Way Reno, Nevada 89502 (775)858-5700 Fax (775)858-5720