Denver Fire Department (DFD)

Buckle Up Kids Training	COLORADO

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

Informal observational surveys of child safety seat usage in Colorado demonstrate estimated use at 70 percent; however, correct usage was estimated at less than 15 percent in 1995. Incorrect usage of safety seats can result in otherwise preventable injuries and fatalities from motor vehicle crashes. Denver, Colorado identified a need for training programs that teach parents how to use safety seats and seat belts correctly.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Denver Fire Department (DFD) Buckle Up Kids Training Project is to increase correct usage of child safety seats and safety belts in the Denver area. Specific objectives include:

Providing Buckle Up Kids training to at least 28 roving lieutenants within the DFD

Conducting safety seat recall checkpoints at fire stations throughout the Denver area

Serving as a community resource in child passenger safety

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

One of the DFD's fire prevention instructors participated in a national training session on occupant restraint and child safety seat usage in Emmitsburg, Maryland. His participation in this program led to the development of similar eight-hour training sessions in Denver. The DFD conducted these sessions in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Denver Social Services, the Denver Police Department, and the Colorado Department of Transportation. At each session, qualified professionals provided information on crash dynamics, how seat belts and child safety seats work, air bags, and other occupant restraint issues concerning both children

Denver Fire Department (DFD)

Buckle Up Kids Training (cont'd)

and adults. The sessions included hands-on practice where participants had to locate usage mistakes and correct them.

Class participants included DFD roving lieutenants, police officers, social services and Head Start workers, and other individuals from both the public and private sectors who had an interest in promoting correct seat belt and child safety seat usage. Each class then participated in a safety seat recall checkpoint at a local fire station. At these recall checkpoints, class participants corrected usage mistakes and instructed parents and children on the importance of using restraints properly.

The Denver metropolitan media outlets provided extensive coverage of project activities, including a kickoff press conference announcing the project, live remote from the checkpoint sites on the evening news and articles in Denver newspapers. To help publicize and promote the checkpoints, DFD firefighters developed and distributed flyers announcing the checkpoints in their neighborhoods

RESULTS

As of January 1996, approximately 75 to 80 roving lieutenants, police officers, social services workers and others had been trained using the NHTSA Buckle Up Kids curriculum. Currently, there are six additional recall checkpoints scheduled for 1996, and more will probably be added. Updated statistics on correct usage rates are not yet available, but neighborhoods and the general public have given this program very positive reviews. Many parents have expressed appreciation for the firefighters' assistance in helping them properly protect their children.

Colorado enacted an enhanced child passenger safety law in July 1995 which requires children through age 15 to be protected by safety restraint devices while riding in motor vehicles, regardless of seating configurations.