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PROBLEM IDENTIFICATIONOklahoma continues to have a significant problem in child passenger safety restraint use. Surveys indicate that use rates range from 84.2 percent for infants and small children riding with a belted driver to 27.5 percent for the same group riding with an unbelted driver. In 1999, 61.5 percent of fatality victims age eight and under were not using any type of restraint system. Additionally, 359 children were injured when safety equipment was not in use. Misuse of safety equipment also contributes to deaths and injuries to small children each year. Less than one percent of the car seats checked by Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) personnel in the past year were correctly installed. Moreover, many parents move children between four and eight years old to seat and shoulder belts far too soon. GOALS AND OBJECTIVESTo address the problem of deaths and injuries to infants and small children, the EMSA developed the Child Safety Seat Training and Education Program in 2000. Its goal is to increase the use and proper use of child restraint systems within the EMSA service areas through the following objectives:
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIESEMSA medics see first hand every day the tragic effects of motor vehicle crashes. They also see the incredible life-saving benefits of wearing seat belts and placing children in child safety seats. The EMSA “Backseat Buddies” Program was specifically designed to use the existing personnel of the largest emergency medical services group in the State to provide education, training and hands-on experience to parents and caregivers of children eight and under. These activities were intended to promote safety belt usage among that same group:
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RESULTSData are not yet available to measure the full impact of the EMSA Child Passenger Safety Training and Education Program. However, media coverage and support from community leaders has been very strong and responses to the car seat events indicate an increased awareness about traffic safety. |
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SPRING 2002 |