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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
When
used properly, child safety seats have proven to be 71 percent effective
in reducing traffic crash fatalities in children under age 5, and 67
percent effective in reducing injuries requiring hospitalization. Nationally,
in 1997, the lives of 312 children under age 5 were saved because they
were properly restrained in a child safety seat during a crash. To be
effective, however, safety seats must be used correctly. Maryland traffic
safety officials were concerned about the high rate of safety seat misuse
statewide; data indicate that four out of five car seats are used improperly.
To kick-off
Child Passenger Safety Week in Maryland, on February 12, 1999, staff
from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Region
3 Office held a press conference at the Baltimore City Zoo. In front
of the zoo's elephant exhibit, a new Buckle Up America! promotion
was unveiled: Elephants Never Forget to Buckle Up.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Elephants Never
Forget to Buckle Up campaign was developed by NHTSA's Region 3 Office
to help children establish behavior patterns that lead to life long
safety habits. Specific objectives of the effort include:
- Stressing the importance
of all children being properly restrained when traveling in a motor
vehicle, to reduce unnecessary and preventable injuries and fatalities
- Increasing education
to Maryland residents about the proper use of occupant restraint for
children of different ages
- Increasing enforcement
and compliance
with existing child passenger safety statutes
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The
Elephants Never Forget to Buckle Up promotion unveiled a large
elephant-shaped proclamation at the Baltimore City Zoo in February,
1999. The proclamation contained a commitment to "never forget to buckle
up", that was to be signed by the more than 80 representatives from
police agencies and traffic safety advocates attending the event, as
well as more than 100 local elementary school children present. Police
representatives included: the Maryland State Police, Baltimore City
Police, Baltimore County Police, Howard County Police and the Maryland
Association of Chiefs of Police. Participating traffic safety advocates
included: Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (Maryland Department of Health),
National Safe Kids Coalition, Johns Hopkins University Center for Injury
Research and Policy and Maryland Shock Trauma.
These law
enforcement, health care and safety advocates formed a partnership to
promote the proper use of seat belts and child safety seats throughout
their communities. Stuffed elephants were distributed to all participants
of the Elephants Never Forget to Buckle Up promotion, to reiterate
the "never forget to buckle up" message.
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