REMSA, Saint Mary's and Washoe Medical Center Receive Grant From Office of Traffic Safety for Northern Nevada Child Passenger Safety Fitting Station

April 8, 2005 -- The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) has awarded a three-year grant for $124,115 to fund a partnership to implement and maintain a full-time child car safety seat inspection and installation station for Northern Nevada. Saint Mary's Maternal/Child Health Departments, Washoe Medical Center and REMSA will open and operate this joint project. In addition the hospitals each contributed $10,000 for the project.

"Non-use and misuse of child safety seats is a widespread problem in Nevada, and motor vehicle deaths remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 14 and under," said Traci Pearl, OTS highway safety representative. "This program is an opportunity for parents to learn how to correctly install safety seats, while at the same time reaching out to those who may not be able to afford a seat otherwise."
The grant will provide the necessary funds to operate at a designated location where parents and caregivers can go to receive individualized tutorial instruction on the proper selection, use and installation of child restraints in motor vehicles. The Fitting Station will operate at a location to be determined on regularly scheduled days in Washoe County.

"We are thrilled to receive the funds to operate a full-time Northern Nevada CPS Fitting Station," said Melissa Krall, REMSA Director of Community Outreach. "Our community will now have one easily accessible source for accurate information and affordable support for obtaining child safety car seats and instructions for installing. Our goal is to increase the use of child passenger safety restraints in northern Nevada by five percent and decrease the misuse of child passenger safety restraints by three percent, during the next two years."

The Northern Nevada CPS Fitting Station will be coordinated by a NHTSA-certified CPS Technician who will be aided by REMSA-trained assistants and community volunteers. Unlike similar programs in the past, the permanent station will allow medical centers, clinics and pediatricians the opportunity to refer their patients to the car seat safety station, thereby shifting the burden of installation and inspection from hospital employees. In addition there are safety seats available to distribute to parents who cannot afford to purchase one. For more information contact Melissa Krall at 858-5700, extension 151.

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