|
PRESS RELEASE
“Wellfleet Police Department Receives Child Passenger Equipment
Grant”
The Wellfleet Police has received a $5,000 grant from the Executive
Office of Public Safety and Security to expand its child passenger
safety efforts. The grant will be used primarily to purchase child
safety seats for distribution to parents and caregivers in need.
“With this grant, the Wellfleet Police department can better serve
parents and caregivers who want to protect their children from death
or injury by properly securing them in a safety belt, booster seat,
or child safety seat,” said Chief Richard Rosenthal.
The Wellfleet Police department will be holding a child safety seat
installation event on Saturday March 7, 2009 from 9 to 2. The event
will be held at the Wellfleet Police department. Any individuals in
need of a child safety seat are invited to stop by and have a safety
seat installed by our Child Safety Installation Technician James
Campbell. This service is free of charge to the community. If you
have any questions, please feel free to call Officer James Campbell
at (508) 349-3702 or visit the department website at
www.wellfleetpd.org
Officer James Campbell is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician
and is available to install your child's safety seat. If interested,
please call Officer Campbell to set up an appointment at 508-349-3702.
Your safety. It's worth a second thought .
Are you and your child passengers properly restrained while driving?
Did you know that everyday 4 children under the age of 14 are killed
and another 622 are seriously injured in the United States as a result of
motor vehicle accidents? Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of
unintentional deaths to children under 14.
A 2004 study by the GHSB noted that "when children were observed in the
front passenger seat, their belt usage was 79 percent. Though children
represent a portion of belted passengers...they should not be riding in
the front seat at all." Last year Massachusetts law enforcement officials
issued 1,060 violations for unrestrained children.
Tips for "best practices" when driving with children
passengers:
- Children from birth to 1 year and less than 20 pounds in weight
must be in a rear facing infant seat.
- Children over 1 year and weigh 20 to 40 pounds in weight can be in a
forward facing car seat. Some seats allow rear-facing at higher weights.
(Check manufacturers labels and instructions)
- Children over 40 pounds and under 80 pounds in weight should be in a
booster seat, which assists in the proper fit of the vehicle safety
belt.
- Children under 13 years of age should not ride in the front seat.
- All children should be riding in the back seat and away from air
bags.
- Always wear your lap and shoulder belt when driving -- it protects
you in case of a crash and it sets a good example for children.
|
