Franciscan St. Francis Health garners state
grant to support safety clinic
INDIANAPOLIS
– Franciscan St. Francis Health is encouraging parents and caregivers to have
children’s safety seats inspected based on recommendations issued by the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The hospital’s Child Passenger Safety
Clinic
is offering free
inspections with certified technicians available to advise on the proper use of
seats for youngsters. The event is 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of
Franciscan St. Francis Weight Loss Center (5230-A E. Stop 11 Road).
The hospital is partnering on the
project with the Automotive Safety Program (ASP) at the Indiana University School
of Medicine and the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for this event.
If unable to visit the inspection sites,
adults can arrange for free inspections any time of the year by calling the
hospital at 317-528-5774 or ASP toll-free at 800-KID-N-CAR.
Language
interpreters will be on hand to assist Hispanic and Burmese/Chin parents and
adult caregivers. Children’s car seats will be provided for families who can
prove they are receiving public assistance and the child must be present.
Earlier this year, Franciscan St.
Francis Health was chosen as a recipient to receive $10,000 in state and
federal grant funding for Child Passenger Safety Programs. Grant funding is
awarded through the Traffic Safety division of the Indiana Criminal Justice
Institute.
“Increasing child passenger safety is
a primary goal of ours,” said Sharilyn Wagner, a postpartum nurse and Child
Passenger Safety Technician. “Statistics show the leading cause of death for
children ages one to 13 is automobile accidents. This is why it is so important
we ensure children are properly buckled and within the right car seat. We are
grateful for this grant as it enables us to continue to protect children.
Indiana Traffic Safety Facts: Children 2014
From 2010 to 2014, the
number of children killed in Indiana traffic collisions declined 9 percent
annually and the number experiencing incapacitating injuries increased 12
percent, according to this State of Indiana report. Between 2013 and 2014, the total
number of child fatalities in Indiana traffic collisions fell by 43 percent,
from 35 to 20.
The number of children
in the less-than-1-year-old age group who experienced incapacitating injuries
rose between 2013 and 2014 from 3 to 17.1 percent.
NHTSA
Car Seat Recommendations for Children
Birth-12
months A
child under age one should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are
different types of rear-facing car seats: Rear-only facing seats can only be
used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height
and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child
rear facing for a longer period of time. Never put a rear facing seat in front
of an active airbag.
1-3
years Keep your child rear-facing as long as
possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain
in a rear-facing car seat (at least until the age of two) and should continue
to ride rear-facing until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit
allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the
rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car
seat with a harness.
4-7
years Keep your child in
a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height
or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child
outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a
booster seat, but still in the back seat. A Child should at least a minimum of
4 years old and 40 pounds before moving up to a booster seat.
8-12
years Keep your child in a booster seat until he or
she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Indiana State Law states that
all children under the age of 8 must be in a booster seat or car seat. Best
Practice is 4’9’”. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly
across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug
across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: A child
should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
“They might be as tall
as you and weigh as much as you, but their bones will not hold up to the air
bags like older bones will,” said Wagner. “Their bones and muscles are not
mature yet.”
