REMSA JOINS ORVIS SCHOOL OF NURSING FOR “SAFETY SCREEN AT THE BIG SCREEN”

July 16, 2004 -- The Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA) and SAFE KIDS Washoe County have teamed with the University of Nevada, Reno’s, Orvis School of Nursing to hold a child safety seat inspection at the El Rancho Drive-In located at 555 El Rancho Dr., on Tuesday, July 20 beginning at 6 p.m.

The first 50 cars with a child seat to arrive at the “Safety Screen at the Big Screen” event will receive complimentary safety seat inspections as well as free admission to the featured movie being shown that evening after the sun has gone down. There will also be health booths, games, prizes and activities for children.

REMSA recently trained and certified 20 Orvis School of Nursing students in proper child seat installation. All of the newly qualified nursing students will be checking car seats at the event.

According to the National SAFE KIDS campaign, 99% of all children eight years and under are improperly restrained. 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 from the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety.

Last month, REMSA inspected 111 child safety seats,1 of which arrived installed correctly. REMSA also distributed 42 new child safety seats for those in need.
For more information about upcoming checkpoints please call 858-KIDS, or click here.

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