Friday, February 25, 2011

“Buckle Up For Safety, Buckle Up!”

Anyone remember that catchy “buckle up” PSA from the 60’s? Anyone? With motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of death among those ages 5-34 in the U.S, the message can certainly still resonate even today.

Seat belts are the single most effective and easiest way to reduce serious crash-related injuries and deaths. According to the National Highway and Safety Administration fastening your seatbelt can reduce your chances of injury by approximately 50 percent.

Everyone should take the life-saving measure and buckle their seatbelt. Period. And in case you’re traveling with little ones, here are a few tips to pack before take to the streets:
  • CDC recommends that children ages 12 and under should be seated in the back seat.
  • NEVER seat a child in front of an airbag because they are more likely to suffer more possibly fatal injuries with an airbag.
  • The safest spot to seat a child in the backseat is in the middle of the row.
  • Rear-facing car seats are ideal for infants till age 1 and front-facing car seats are ideal for children up till age 4.
  • Booster seats can be used till age 12, but remember to check weight and height requirements!

Driving can be fun when going on a road trip or a relaxing cruise downtown-but it can also be dangerous. Take these safety tips into consideration next time you get into a seat. Together, we can learn to live injury-free because, remember, safety is NO accident. To learn more about road safety visit our website at www.nphw.org also check out these great online resources.

No comments: