Julia Koelsch

State Child Passenger Safety Coordinator

According to the organization Kids And Cars, at least 50 children are backed over by vehicles every week. Of those children, 48 are treated in hospital emergency rooms and 2 die. That is an alarming statistic. There has been much investigation into why we are seeing this number continue to rise instead of decline, and one of the biggest factors is vehicle design. Many families own large vehicles such as vans, trucks, and SUVs that make seeing what is in front or behind the vehicle nearly impossible at times.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recognized this problem, had proposed that backup cameras be required in all new cars by 2014. Due to a public backlash, they have postponed implementing the standard, but are expected to make some adjustments to the proposal and re-introduce it perhaps later this year.

While technology can absolutely help in saving lives, incidents such as frontover and backover injuries and fatalities can often be prevented by taking the time to walk completely around the vehicle before getting into your car. Below are some additional tips to make sure you Spot Your Tot!

• Walk all the way around your parked vehicle to check for children – or anything that can attract a child like pets or toys – under or behind your vehicle before getting in and starting the engine.

• Accompany young children when they get in and out of a vehicle.

• Identify and use safe play areas for children away from parked or moving vehicles. Block driveways so cars cannot enter and exit.

• Designate a safe spot within a driver’s sight for children to wait when nearby vehicles are about to move.

• Firmly hold the hand of each child when walking near moving vehicles and when in driveways, in parking lots or on sidewalks.

For more information on Kids And Cars visit their website at www.kidsandcars.org

Summer is an exciting time for kids: school is out, pools are open, and the world is a playground! However, with increased activity during the summer season, also comes an increased risk of injury. Unintentional injury remains the number 1 killer of children in the United States, with more than 2,000 children dying each summer from injuries that could have been prevented.

The top 5 risk areas in the summer include Drowning, Bike and Wheeled Sports Injuries, Falls

Motor Vehicle-Related Injuries, and Pedestrian Injuries. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you enjoy this season with your family:

At home

If you have a pool or a spa, it should be surrounded on all four sides by a fence at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates, and it should be equipped with an anti-entrapment drain cover and safety vacuum release system. An inflatable pool needs to be surrounded by a fence, just like any other pool, and parents need to empty these pools when not in use.
Make sure your home playground is safe. Keep 12 inches safe surfacing, such as mulch, shredded rubber or fine sand, extending at least six feet in all directions around the equipment. Remove hood and neck drawstrings from your child’s clothing.

Keep children away from the grill area while preheating and cooking, and while the grill is cooling.

Remove potential poisons from your yard, including poisonous plants, pesticides and pool chemicals.
At play

Actively supervise your child when engaging in summertime activities, such as swimming and playing on playgrounds and backyards.
Use the appropriate safety gear for your child’s activities, such as a helmet for wheeled sports and sporting activities, a car seat or booster seat as appropriate, and a life jacket for open water swimming and boating.
Make sure your child drinks plenty of water. A child who seems tired or achy should rest in the shade or go inside for a while.

On the way

Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, even with the window slightly open. Place something that you