Multi-Agency Car Seat Coalition Helping Educate Families on the Proper Way to Install Car and Booster Seats

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Multi-Agency Car Seat Coalition Helping Educate Families on the Proper Way to Install Car and Booster Seats

More expecting moms are getting car seats installed at checkpoints

Pittsburgh, Pa. - April 16, 2005 -

Although more than 5,000 families have been educated through TECHS free car seat safety checks, more than 98 percent of all car seats are installed incorrectly despite parents' good intensions. And, more than one-third of those having a car seat checked are expectant mothers.

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Team Educators for Child Safety (TECHS) coalition and State Farm Insurance are continuing to offer education and free car seat check points throughout Allegheny County to ensure families know the safest and legal way to provide a safe seat for children riding in vehicles.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children 14 and younger. Unrestrained children are more likely to be injured, suffer more severe injuries, and die in motor vehicle crashes than children who are restrained properly, said Barbara Gaines, MD, director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center at Children's.

"Trauma continues to be the leading cause of death in children with ejection being the leading cause of mortality in a motor vehicle crash," said Dr. Gaines, mother of two who is expecting her third child soon. "We want to prevent children from getting injured and the check points are a great way to ensure families are traveling safely."

TECHS is a non-profit coalition of certified child safety seat inspectors that was created four years ago to ensure that all children are properly restrained. More than 35 agencies, including Children's, are a part of TECHS.

In support of the groups' efforts, State Farm Insurance is awarding a $12,500 grant to help TECHS provide comprehensive child car safety seat inspections to the public at no charge. "Everyone at State Farm is excited to continue this effort to ensure families are traveling safely," said Jen Johnsen, of State Farm Insurance. "Our support of TECHS not only provides child passenger safety education during State Farm National Child Safety Day on May 14, 2005 but extends that education to every corner of Allegheny County throughout the year."

A list of free car seat safety check points, dates and locations is available by calling 412-881-9221, or visiting www.patechs.com. For car seat safety information, please visit Children's Web site at www.chp.edu and click on the Injury Prevention section located at the top of the home page.

Contacts:
Melanie Finnigan or Marc Lukasiak, 412-692-5016, Melanie.Finnigan@chp.edu or Marc.Lukasiak@chp.edu

Last Update
February 19, 2008

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