Project
Characteristics |
Car
Seat Safety Inspections
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Program
Areas |
Child Passenger Safety |
Type
of Jurisdiction |
City, County, Metro Area |
Targeted
Population |
English and Spanish-Speaking Families with Children Under Age Nine |
Jurisdiction
Size |
361,262 |
Funding |
$61,000
(CO Trust, United Way, Foster Wheeler Environmental,
No.
Suburban Medical Ctr., Wells Fargo Comm. Fund, contributions,
donations, fundraising) |
Contact |
Melanie Goodman
Health & Safety Educator
Community Health Svcs.
4675 E. 69th Ave.
Commerce City, CO 80222
(303) 853-3282
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Digest
Listing
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COLORADO
Keep Me Safe (KMS) Program
PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
The National SAFE KIDS Campaign reports that unintentional injury is
the leading cause of death for children under the age of 14. Motor vehicle
crashes account for nearly 42 percent of all unintentional injury-related
deaths. Currently in Colorado, there is a 94 percent car seat misuse rate.
A 1999 informal survey in Commerce City, indicated a child safety seat use
rate of 50 percent.
The Keep Me Safe (KMS) Program is for all families regardless of age,
race, and socio-economic status. It is based in Commerce City, which is a
low-income, blue collar, highly transient, and industry-dominated community.
There is a large population of agricultural and industrial workers from
other countries seeking assistance with car seats and proper installation.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal of the KMS Program is to reduce the number of unintentional
injuries or fatalities to children and adolescents in auto accidents
through the use of appropriate, proven restraint systems. Some general
objectives include:
- Ensuring correct installation of new car/booster seats and restraint
systems;
- Providing classroom presentations and take-home materials on vehicle
passenger safety to children and youth at pre-schools, elementary schools,
and middle schools;
- Encouraging students to sign a pledge to wear safety belts when
traveling in private vehicles; and
- Training new Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians, primarily
within Adams County, to increase capacity to provide car/booster seat
installations and safety checks.
STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES
The KMS Program consisted of the following activities:
- Promoted and hosted car seat checks throughout the metropolitan area
at Community Health Services, hospitals, parent groups, and businesses.
- Trained new child passenger safety technicians.
- Promoted the use of car/booster seats and safety belts at events,
during car seat safety workshops, in newsletters, and in the media.
- Surveyed parents about the use of proper restraints.
- Presented the “What’s My Size” Program at local pre-schools to educate
children and their parents about the importance of booster seats and the
new booster seat law.
- Spoke with students in health classes at middle schools in Adams
County School District 14 regarding safety belt usage and passenger
safety.
- Hosted an annual 32-hour CPS training using the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) curriculum for Adams County and the
metropolitan area.
- Provided trained technicians to participate in KMS-hosted car seat
events.
- Provided candidates for CPS trainings through the Health and Safety
Educator, law enforcement agencies, fire protection districts, and EMS
agencies.
RESULTS
From September 1, 2002 to January 31, 2003, the KMS Program
participated in 25 car seat check-up events where 537 car seats were
checked. The KMS Program distributed 54 car seats to families in need and
provided nine educational presentations to 120 participants. A 2003
informal survey in Commerce City indicated a child safety seat use of 70
percent, which is a 20 percent increase over the 1999 rate.
The KMS Program works closely with the Spanish-speaking community by
distributing flyers and informational handouts on unintentional injury
prevention. All information developed in Spanish is shared with other
community agencies to assist them with diverse communities
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