REMSA PROMOTES CHILD CAR SEAT SAFETY DURING NATIONAL SAFE KIDS WEEK AT RED HAWK IN WINGFIELD SPRINGS

May 6, 2003 -- REMSA (Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority) and SAFE KIDS Washoe County will host a Point of Impact child safety seat inspection and replacement program this weekend at Red Hawk Swim & Fitness Center in Wingfield Springs. Trained staff and REMSA volunteers will be inspecting child car seats for correct installation and usage to make sure all children of families in our community leave safely.

The checkpoint will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2003 beginning at 11 a.m. at Red Hawk Swim & Fitness Center, 6225 Wingfield Springs Road, Sparks Be sure to be in line early as we can only accept the first 50 cars.

Despite a dramatic decline in the unintentional childhood death rate, preventable injuries are still the number one killer of kids. Through public awareness activities like National SAFE KIDS Week (May 3-10, 2003), SAFE KIDS Washoe County seeks to educate parents about these potential risks to children.

According to the National SAFE KIDS campaign, 99% of all children eight years and under are improperly restrained in vehicles. In Washoe County, 98% of children are improperly restrained. The National SAFE KIDS campaign recommends the use of child safety seats until children are 40 pounds and then the use of booster seats until children are 8 years old and 80 pounds or four feet nine inches tall. In addition, children ages two to five who are restrained in adult safety belts are three and a half times more likely to suffer a serious injury and greater than four times more likely to suffer a serious head injury than children of the same ages who are restrained in child safety seats.

REMSA’s Point of Impact child safety seat inspection and replacement program regularly hosts checkpoints where safety seats are inspected for correct installation and usage. Car seats and booster seats found to be unsafe or on a national or manufacturer’s recall list will be removed, destroyed and replaced at reduced costs and/or free of charge to qualifying families. This program is funded in part by the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.

Last month, REMSA inspected 116 child safety seats, one of which arrived installed correctly. REMSA also distributed 62 new child safety seats for those in need.

For more information about upcoming checkpoints please call 858-KIDS, click here.

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