Safe Kids Wyoming Recommends Car Seat and Seatbelt Use Each and Every Time

November 4, 2015

Cheyenne, WY—Safe Kids Wyoming urges parents and caregivers to make sure their car seats and booster seats are properly installed. “Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent,” said Stephanie Heitsch, Safe Kids Wyoming coordinator.  “We want all parents to make sure their car seats are used and installed correctly and that the whole family is buckled up every time on every ride. And we’re here to help.”

Car seat inspections offer drivers the chance to receive assistance and guidance from certified car seat technicians regarding proper installation of their child safety and booster seats. Safe Kids Buckle Up events continue throughout the year. To find a certified child passenger safety technicians in your area, go to http://safekidswyoming.org/

Safe Kids Wyoming also urges parents and caregivers to be good role models for their children. “Learning the importance of wearing a seat belt starts with a good role model—and that’s you. As a parent or caregiver, you are the number one influence on your child’s seat belt safety,” Heitsch said.

Research shows that children whose parents buckle up are much more likely to buckle up themselves.

“We know life as a parent is full of distractions and often hectic, making it easy to forget about or forego buckling up altogether,” Heitsch said. “See if any of these excuses for not buckling up sound familiar. Then do whatever it takes to buckle up and make sure your kids do the same.”

Consistency is Key
Make it a rule in your family that everyone follows the same practices as you: Always buckle up before moving the car, no matter how short or routine the drive, and make sure all children are buckled up properly.

When is the Front Seat Safe for My Child?
All children under age 13 should ride in the back seat for maximum safety. The back seat is the safest place for children because most crashes occur in the front of the car, and the back seat is farthest from this impact.

About Safe Kids Wyoming
Safe Kids Wyoming works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Its members include a network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Cheyenne Regional Medical Center is a partner with Safe Kids Wyoming. For more information about Safe Kids Wyoming, contact Stephanie Heitsch at 307-633-7525 or Stephanie.heitsch@crmcwy.org.