Auto Dealers to Promote Child Passenger Safety Month in September

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio, Aug. 20, 2007 -- September is Child Passenger Safety month. And thousands of new-car dealers around the country will host free child safety seat inspections at their dealerships as part of the national 'Boost for Safety' campaign.

The program was developed by the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Child Passenger Safety 101: The Basics
From birth to at least one year old and at least 20 pounds, children should be secured in the back seat in a rear-facing infant seat. 
Children between the ages of one to about age four and 20-40 pounds should be secured in the back seat in a forward-facing toddler seat. 
Kids between the ages of four and eight or 40-80 pounds – unless 4’9” – should be properly restrained in the back seat in belt-positioning booster seats. 
There are two types of booster seats – a high-back booster and a low-back booster.
A high-back booster seat uses the vehicle’s lap/shoulder belt and provides head and neck support for the child if the car does not have a built-in head restraint. A low-back booster seat is for use in vehicles that have a built-in head restraint.  This type of booster seat is also used with the lap/shoulder belt to properly secure the child. 
The child seat manufacturer certifies that all child safety seats sold meet federal safety performance standards.  

"We are grateful to the staff of Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital for providing the free child safety seat inspections at car dealerships throughout Northeast Ohio," said Gary S. Adams, president of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association. "The September initiative coincides with the back-to-school timeframe when many children will be on the roads each day."

More than 40,000 child passengers under age four are injured or killed in car crashes annually, according to the NHTSA. The administration reports that more than 50,000 children between four- and eight-years-old are injured or killed each year while riding in cars. About 40 percent of children under the age of eight that die or suffer serious injuries in car crashes are completely unbelted.

"Because four out of five car seats are used incorrectly, getting your child safety seat checked for proper selection and installation is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to protect your children," said Kathryn Wesolowski, program manager, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Injury Prevention Center.

"Providing this potentially life-saving service at automobile dealerships throughout the area in September, the members of the Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association are doing a wonderful service for the children and families of Northeast Ohio," Wesolowski added.

The Greater Cleveland Automobile Dealers' Association represents 265 new motor vehicles dealerships in northern Ohio. The GCADA, founded in 1903, is located in Brecksville, Ohio.

  Here is a list of participating dealerships and other locations:
  -- WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 5 - ZARZOUR CHEVROLET, 12577 GAR HIGHWAY (CHARDON)
     1-5 PM, CONTACT: AL ZARZOUR (440) 286-9000
  -- SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 - BABIES-R-US, 26520 LORAIN ROAD (NORTH OLMSTED)
     10 AM - 2 PM
  -- WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 - DON'S BROOKLYN CHEVROLET, 4941 PEARL ROAD
     (CLEVELAND) 1- 5 PM, CONTACT: LAURA PETRUZZI (216) 741-1500
  -- SATURDAY, SEPT. 15 - BABIES-R-US, 7841 MENTOR AVE. (MENTOR) 10 AM - 2
     PM
  -- TUESDAY, SEPT. 18 - JAY PONTIAC BUICK, 18800 ROCKSIDE ROAD (BEDFORD)
     1-5 PM, CONTACT: RON RICHNAVSKY (440) 232-5000 EXT. 120
  -- THURSDAY, SEPT. 20 - PAT O'BRIEN CHEVROLET, 25100 DETROIT AVE.
     (WESTLAKE) 1 - 5 PM, CONTACT: PAT O'BRIEN (440) 899-8888
  -- SATURDAY, SEPT. 22 - KOHL'S DEPARTMENT STORE, 6860 RIDGE ROAD (PARMA)
     10 AM - 2 PM
  -- WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26 - PETE BAUR PONTIAC, 14000 PEARL ROAD
     (STRONGSVILLE) 1 - 5 PM CONTACT: BRUCE SYKES (440) 238-5600
  -- SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 - GENE NORRIS BUICK GMC, 18170 BAGLEY ROAD
     (MIDDLEBURG HTS.) 10 AM - 2 PM, CONTACT: DOUG THOMPSON (440) 243-0660