Boost 'em in the Back Seat website

Are you in need of free, empirically supported, and easily accessible booster seat education materials? As a fellow child health professional, I wanted to let you know about our new nonprofit Boost 'em in the Back Seat website at http://www.boosterseats4safety.org. You may already be familiar with the 6-minute Boost 'em in the Back Seat video, which is available for free and easy download (or streaming, if you prefer) on the site. The video includes high-threat content that evokes a sense of vulnerability to motor vehicle hazards, as well as high-efficacy content that provides caregivers with the confidence and knowledge to protect one's family from motor vehicle risks. Evaluation research has shown the video-intervention to significantly increase child passenger safety knowledge, risk-reduction attitudes, perceptions of fear and efficacy, and observed booster seat use. Also on the website are free 30-second PSAs, downloadable resources, and parent education pages, all of which are available for use in your work to keep children safe.
Kelli England Will, Ph.D. and the rest of our team at EVMS

Car seat safety check

Riverside Regional Medical Center will have a free child safety
seat check the third Thursday of each month from 10am-2pm and
4pm-8pm located in the first floor of the parking garage. For more information call 875-7880

Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 - Passed

The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007 was passed by the US Senate yesterday. It is expected that the President will sign the bill. The new legislation directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue new safety standards within specific time periods that will lead to the installation of safety technologies as standard equipment in all vehicles to prevent deaths and injuries in and around motor vehicles. These safety technologies are already available as standard equipment, upgrades or optional equipment in many makes and models of vehicles. The bill addresses three of the most serious causes of preventable injuries and fatalities to young children in and around motor vehicles: getting caught in an automatically closing power window; being struck by a backing vehicle because of an unacceptable blindzone; and placing a vehicle in gear that results in an uncontroll ed roll away without having to depress the brake.
The bill also requires the US Department of Transportation to establish a database of noncrash incidents and develop a program to provide the public with safety information regarding nontraffic dangers to young children.

TEENS AND IMPAIRED DRIVING - Driving under the Influence Too Common among Teenagers

TEENS AND IMPAIRED DRIVING
Driving under the Influence Too Common among Teenagers

Drinking and driving among teenagers is a disturbingly common problem, says a new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to Elias A. Zerhouni, NIH director, "This study shows that not only are too many teens putting themselves and others at risk by driving under the influence of drugs, but . . . there has been little improvement in the past six years." The study found that nearly a third of high school students had driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs -- or had been in the car with a driver who had -- in the previous two weeks.

Read the full article at:
http://www.drugabuse.gov/newsroom/07/NR10-29.html

Kids in Cars - August Purple Ribbon Month

August is Purple Ribbon Month for reminding parents and caregivers on the dangers of leaving children unattended in and around vehicles.

Kids IN Cars' partner, 4RKidssake, heads up this incredible life saving technique. Hang a purple ribbon on a tree in your front yard, on your personal vehicle or even your work vehicle, on your mailbox and many other places. Wear a lapel pin every day of August and share our life saving message.

You will be amazed on how many people will ask you what the purple ribbon stands for.
What a great way to ensure the safety of our children nationwide.

So how do you get these ribbons? Simply reply to my email and provide an address.

Together we will save lives!

Becky Ball
Director of Virginia
Kids In Cars
703-304-1375
becky.ball@kidsincars.org
www.kidsincars.org