| Child passenger safety part of Disney train tour |
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| ODOT News |
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June 29, 2009
For More Information: Shelley Snow, 503-986-3438, shelley.m.snow@odot.state.or.us
or Ruth Harshfield, 503-643-5620, ruthh@actsoregon.org
Parents and caregivers bringing their bright-eyed children to Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” train tour at Portland’s Union Station on July 1 can also learn how to use the correct safety seat no matter what age or size of the child. Certified child safety seat technicians will be on-site to answer questions throughout the free event, which runs from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. and features train tours, giveaways and educational information for children of all ages.
In Oregon in 2007, one in three children under age eight killed or injured in crashes was using adult belt systems (231 children) or was totally unrestrained (16 children) rather than riding in child seats appropriate for their size. Child passengers under age four in Oregon are almost always placed in child restraints (99 percent), but children over age 4 are often not put in the proper restraints. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 – 6, in part because 3 out of 4 child passenger safety seats are not being used correctly. Crashes also are the leading cause of death for children ages 8 – 15.
That’s why the Oregon Department of Transportation, ACTS Oregon, SAFE KIDS Oregon and SAFE KIDS Portland Metro are joining Disney to promote child passenger safety during the nationwide train tour promoting Disney’s “A Christmas Carol.” Certified child passenger safety technicians will answer questions about safety seats, booster seats, safety belts and more. For those who can’t make the event, visit ACTS Oregon Child Safety Seat Resource Center at www.childsafetyseat.org for a calendar of local checkup events.
In addition, ODOT recommends the following 4 Steps for Kids guidelines for determining which restraint system is best suited to protect children:
Step 1 - Rear-Facing Seats
For the best possible protection, keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat. At a minimum, keep infants rear-facing until a minimum of age 1 and at least 20 pounds. Oregon law requires a child under one year of age or weighting less than 20 pounds to be restrained in a child seat, rear-facing.
Step 2 - Forward-Facing Seats
When children outgrow their rear-facing seats (at a minimum age 1 and at least 20 pounds), they should ride in forward-facing child safety seats, in the back seat, until they reach the upper weight or height limit of the particular seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds).
Step 3 - Booster Seats
Once children outgrow their forward-facing seats (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds), they should ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall). Oregon law requires a child over forty pounds but under age 8 or less than 4’9’’ tall to be restrained in a booster seat.
Step 4 - Seat Belts
When children outgrow their booster seats, (usually at age 8 or when they are 4’9” tall), they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest).
For help with child safety seats, refer to the seat manufacturer’s instructions or vehicle owner’s manual, or call ACTS Oregon Child Safety Seat Resource Center at (503) 643-5620 or 1-800-772-1315.
During the 24 week tour, the Disney train will make 40 stops in 36 states, as it makes its way over more than 16,000 mile of track to promote the Charles Dickens tale, “A Christmas Carol.” For more information on “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and a complete schedule for the Train Tour, visit www.christmascaroltraintour.com.
##ODOT##
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