The misuse of child safety seats continues to be a major concern of public health and safety officials. The wide variety of seat belt systems in many of today's cars, coupled with the vehicle's design, often makes car seat use difficult or impossible. Car dealers can play an important role in educating consumers about these concerns. Dealers, however, are often unaware of the complicated nature of child restraints and do not always provide up-to-date information on the safe use of safety seats. If a car buyer fails to read thoroughly the car owner's manual, s/he may be missing information critical to keeping a child safe.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• Reducing the incidence of death and injury caused by improper use of child safety seats and seat belts
• Providing car dealerships with up-to-date information to relay to customers on child safety seats and how they work with seat belts
• Providing dealerships with resources for additional information on child safety

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

"Safety Belts and Child Safety Seats - Working Together," a 45- minute program, describes to car dealerships:

• The proper use of safety seats and their relation to seat belts
• The proper use of seat belts for children who have outgrown child safety seats
• Common problems often arising with modern restraint systems.

The presentation also includes a hands-on demonstration of safety seat installation, discussion of floor model vehicles, 10 essential safety recommendations for prospective customers, and a follow-up safety seat inspection for dealership customers.

RESULTS

Parts managers, service managers, and salespeople who were previously unaware of locking clips now can explain to customers their use. All dealerships were unaware that seat belts should be replaced after serious crashes; they now recommend this to customers. Approximately 75 percent of the dealers contacted Health Unlimited after the program to obtain additional information.

Evaluation forms completed by 80 percent of all dealerships were extremely positive. When asked what actions they would take as a result of this program, responses were:

• 75 percent will distribute educational materials to customers
• 100 percent will remind customers to read their car owner's manual and child safety seat instructions
• 85 percent will stock locking clips and other items needed to install child safety seats properly
• 85 percent will display passenger safety information in their showrooms
• 85 percent will review information on child restraints written in the owner's manual for all new cars that come to the dealer.

Photos and/or articles in local papers highlighted three of the programs. One dealer invited Health Unlimited to conduct child safety seat inspections as part of a customer appreciation day. Another contacted the state auto dealers association to suggest that similar programs be given statewide.