Safe Kids Buckle Up

• Set a goal of making a habit to use your seatbelt every time you enter a vehicle, even if you’re in the back seat, or going a short distance. 
• Every time you are going a short distance, try to remember to buckle up.  Don’t allow the engine to start until you are completely settled (i.e. everything is in the car where you need it and you are buckled up). 
• If you are in the passenger seat, make it your job to know if everyone is buckled up. 
• Talk to your parent, caregiver, or driver about the importance of buckling up.  Explain to them about the dangers of being in a wreck.
• Tell them, if you are in a wreck, you don’t want to be the only one walking away safely because you chose to buckle up.

• Be a role model
• Talk seriously to friends, family, caregivers, and children about the danger in refusing or forgetting to buckle up
• Know the facts and stats – get informed and stay informed
• The more you talk about it, the more they’ll think about it when they get into a car, or when they start driving, or when you aren’t there for their every move
• Take part in local and national safety weeks; educate your children, friends, etc.  

It’s often the difference between life and death.

During a crash, properly fastened safety belts distribute rapid deceleration over certain parts of the person’s body, such as the chest, hips and shoulders.  The safety belt stretches slightly to slow your body down and to increase its stopping distance.  There is a huge difference between an unbelted and belted person’s stopping distance.

Seat Belts are the best protection in a car accident

• The single most effective thing we can do to save lives and reduce injuries is wearing a seat belt.
• Seat belts are the most effective safety devices in vehicles today, estimated to save 9,500 lives a year.
• In 2004, 50 percent of all children killed in motor vehicles accidents were unrestrained.  Parents’ actions and words are a key factor in teaching children and adolescents injury prevention.
• Child safety seats reduce serious injuries by over 70% for infants and 50% for toddlers

• This eliminates the injury risk if airbag deploy and it places the child in the safest part of the vehicle during a crash.
• Riding in the back seat can lower the risk of fatal injury by over 30% 

Use the Safety Belt Fit Test on every child under 13 years of age.  Remember too, that all children under age 13 should ride properly restrained in a back seat.

Once the safety belts correctly fit children, both shoulder strap and belt should be correctly used.

*www.nsc.org/traf/sbc/sbcwhy.htm
*www.car-accidents.com/pages/seat_belts.html

**www.metrokc.gov/health/news/01111901.htm
**www.uwhealth.org/page.asp?contentid=11757.htm