Delaware Office of Highway Safety Promotes National Child Passenger Safety Week from September 20 – 26, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer

Delaware Office of Highway Safety

Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

302-744-2743

DOVER, Del. (September 21, 2020) – Child Passenger Safety Week is a nationwide campaign that spreads critical awareness and promotes all children being properly restrained in the correct car seat for their age, height, and weight. This year’s CPS Week will be held from September 20-26. Car crashes are a leading cause of death nationwide in children ages 1-13, which is why caregivers must choose and use the correct car seats for their children every time. It is estimated that across the nation in 2017, approximately 325 children under the age of 5 were saved by being properly restrained in the correct car seat. To help ensure your child is in the correct seat, the Delaware Office of Highway Safety offers every Delaware resident access to learning opportunities, free resources, and more through their child passenger safety fitting stations and fitting station coordinators. Fitting station staff is available by virtual appointment to provide free education on how to properly use car seats, booster seats, and seat belts based on the child’s age and size. Nationally in 2017, nearly 2 children under the age of 13 died every day because of a car crash. Our mission is to reduce that number as much as possible by providing free child passenger safety education to parents and caregivers.

“The Delaware Office of Highway Safety is committed to keeping Delawareans safe while traveling on our roads. When you take the time to schedule an appointment with one of our child passenger safety technicians, you can ensure that you have the necessary education to protect your child by keeping them properly restrained in the event of a crash,” Kimberly Chesser, Director, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Virtual Webinar Series

As the COVID-19 pandemic has taken over our attention and priorities, Child Passenger Safety Week looks a little bit different this year. Car crashes haven’t stopped just because there is a pandemic. Children always need to be properly restrained in the correct car seat for their age and size. The pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, in response, we have changed our CPS educational process. To protect our parents and caregivers during this time, Aubrey Klick, Fitting Station Coordinator for the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, has created an educational webinar series that viewers can watch and study from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The series will be launched on the OHS website www.ArriveAliveDE.com, and the OHS social media platforms. The virtual webinar series will cover three topics including newborn safety, ages and stages, and common mistakes. The virtual webinar series is free, and we encourage anyone seeking proper car seat education to view, download, and share.

“My job is to help caregivers ensure that their car seats are properly installed in their vehicles and that their children are safely and properly restrained in their car seats. As an educator, my goal is for caregivers to feel comfortable using their child restraints and feel empowered in their child’s safety,” Aubrey Klick, Fitting Station Coordinator, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Paid Media and Communications Campaign

The Office of Highway Safety is amplifying its education and outreach this week through the launch of a three-pronged approach to spreading awareness about child passenger safety via social media, paid media, and traditional media campaigns. Additionally, we would like to encourage parents and caregivers to visit @SafeKidsWorldwide on Facebook to participate in live online classes offered for basic awareness of child passenger safety. While there, check out Safe Kids Delaware for more information and social media on Child Passenger Safety in Delaware.

Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification

Interested in becoming a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician? You can! Certification courses are currently on hold in Delaware due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, you can stay up to date with the latest course information by visiting https://cert.safekids.org/.

Checklist of Tips for Proper Car Seat Installation and Use 

• Children should ride rear-facing and in the center of the backseat for as long as possible. This usually occurs until age 1, however, it can be longer depending on the child’s height and weight. 
• You should never attempt to secure a child with more than one seatbelt. 
• Be sure to read both the car seat’s instruction manual and the portion of your vehicle owner’s manual on car seat installation. Different seats need to be set up differently based on what vehicle the seat is going into.
• Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed forward-facing through the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders. If in a rear-facing seat, the harness strap should be at or below the shoulders. The harness is snug enough when extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulder. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
• For more information about car seats visit: https://www.arrivealivede.com/secure-the-kids/

“Child Passenger Safety Week is a great reminder to reach out to one of our fitting stations and schedule a virtual appointment to have your child’s car seat checked. Remember, the right car seat is the one that meets your child’s age, height, weight, developmental levels, and you will use correctly 100% of the time.  Give us a call! We would love to assist you,” Shawn Rohe, Fitting Station Coordinator, Delaware Office of Highway Safety.

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Fitting Stations

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety offers free car seat inspections at our local fitting stations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, appointments are currently being conducted virtually via phone and video. Residents in New Castle County may call Shawn Rohe at (302) 256-1123 for an appointment. Residents in Kent or Sussex County may contact Aubrey Klick at (302) 387-2324 for an appointment. For more information about child passenger safety in Delaware, visit https://ohs.delaware.gov/carseat2.shtml.

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About the Delaware Office of Highway Safety
The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) is committed to improving the safety of Delaware’s motoring public by focusing on behavioral traffic safety issues such as impaired driving, seat belt use, speeding, child passenger safety, pedestrian and bicycle safety, motorcycle safety, and teen driving issues. FAQs can be found at ArriveAliveDE.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Cynthia Cavett, Marketing Specialist & Public Information Officer

Delaware Office of Highway Safety

Cynthia.Cavett@delaware.gov

302-744-2743

DOVER, Del. (September 15, 2019) – Child Passenger Safety Week is a vital awareness campaign that runs nationwide to promote kids being secured in the right car seat for their age, height, and weight. This year’s event from September 15 – 21, is a collaboration between the Office of Highway Safety, local law enforcement agencies, Division of Motor Vehicles, and Safe Kids. Free child seat safety check events, resources, and training are being offered throughout the state to communities to educate the public on the importance of correctly choosing, installing and using car seats, booster seats, and seat belts with child passengers.  Nationally in 2017, a child under the age of 13 was involved in a passenger vehicle crash every 32 seconds and on average, nearly two children under 13 were killed every day while riding in cars, SUVs, pickups, and vans that same year. Our staff is available to provide free education to parents and caregivers on how to use the correct car seats, booster seats, and seat belts for their children’s ages and sizes.

“Lives can be saved and injuries prevented by ensuring children are riding in the right car seat and the car seat is properly secured in the vehicle,” Kimberly Chesser, Director, Office of Highway Safety.

CPS Week Twitter Chat

This is the second year that the Office of Highway Safety will host its annual CPS Week Twitter Chat. Join the conversation with certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians and instructors on Thursday, September 19 at 3 P.M. online at @HighwaySafetyDE. Tweet questions, answers, and comments directly with OHS and use the hashtag #CPSWeek2019. Test your knowledge, share your stories, and learn something new.

“The Office of Highway Safety offers free car seat checks year-round at our fitting stations in all three counties.  We are committed to making sure that every caregiver leaves empowered with the knowledge and confidence to install their child’s car seat correctly,” Sarah Cattie, Child Passenger Safety Program Manager, Office of Highway Safety.

Annual Seat Check Saturday Event

OHS is hosting its annual Seat Check Saturday event on September 21 at the Milford Walmart from 10 AM to 12 PM in the parking lot. All parents and caregivers are invited to attend the free event and meet with certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians to ask questions and receive hands-on instruction. A multi-lingual car seat check event will be held at the Georgetown Department of Motor Vehicles, 23737 Dupont Blvd. on September 26 from 5 – 8 P.M. Interpreters who speak Spanish, and Creole will be available for this event to assist the certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians.

“CPS Week is a great opportunity to remind caregivers to always make sure their children are secured safely in the appropriate car seat.  4 of our 5 car seats in Delaware are installed incorrectly,” Aubrey Klick, Fitting Station Coordinator, Office of Highway Safety.

Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification

Interested in becoming a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician? SafeKids Delaware is sponsoring a Child Passenger Safety Technician Certification course being held in Seaford, DE. The course dates are Wednesday – October 2, 9, 16, 23, 2019, at the Seaford Police Department, 300 Virginia Ave., Seaford, DE. The course is one day a week for 4 weeks and the registration deadline is September 18. To register for the course, go to https://cert.safekids.org/.

Tips for Car Seat Installation

• Read the car seat’s instruction manual and the portion of your vehicle’s owner manual on car seat installation.
• The safest place to install a child safety seat is in the center rear position. This may not always be possible if installing the car seat using LATCH attachments.
• Never attempt to secure a child safety seat with more than one seatbelt.
• Harness straps should lie flat, not twisted, and be placed forward-facing through the slot that is at or above your child’s shoulders. If in a rear-facing seat, the harness strap should be at or below the shoulders. The harness is snug enough when extra material cannot be pinched at the shoulder. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level.
• For more information about car seats, go to
  https://ohs.delaware.gov/carseat.shtml.

Delaware Fitting Stations

The Delaware Office of Highway Safety offers free child safety seat inspections at our local Fitting Stations (by appointment only):

• Dover DMV & Sussex County

(302) 744-2749

• Wilmington DMV

(302) 434-3234

You can follow the Delaware Office of Highway Safety by clicking on:

Delaware Office of Highway Safety Web Site

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Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week September 15^th– 21^st.

Dover – It’s not always easy to know how to correctly secure children in car seats in all types of vehicles.  Three out of four parents in Delaware do not install their child’s car seat properly. So one week each year, Delaware and the rest of the nation celebrate National Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week.  This special week, September 15^th – 21st, is dedicated to promoting the correct and consistent use of child safety seats.  Children using incorrectly installed car seats face dramatically increased rates of death and injury in the event of a crash.

OHS child passenger safety fitting stations will also be open during the week taking appointments for car seat checks.  Fitting stations are conveniently located statewide and staffed by certified child passenger safety technicians who will inspect the car seat for correct installation and show you how to properly position your child in the seat.  Call for an appointment at one of these locations.

Wilmington DMV                                Dover DMV

2230 Hessler Blvd                               303 Transportation Cir.

302.434.3234                                      302.744.2749

Tuesday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm               Wednesday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesday 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm          Thursday 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

OHS is also offering other opportunities statewide for families to get their car seats checked for free throughout the week.  Car seat checks will be conducted at the following locations:

Wednesday Sept. 18^th from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

University of Delaware – Early Learning Center

489 Wyoming Rd. Newark, DE 19716

Open only to Early Learning Center Parents by scheduled apt.

Contact (302) 434-3234

Wednesday Sept. 18^th 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm

A.I. Dupont Children’s Hospital

1600 Rockland Road

Wilmington, DE 19803

By appointment

Jennifer McCue (302) 651-6733

Saturday Sept. 21, 2013 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Lewes Community Bank

16982 Kings Highway

Lewes, DE 19958

Open to the Public- No Appointment Necessary

There are 4 steps for child safety as they grow; rear facing, forward facing, booster seat use, and seat belt use.  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced new child safety seat recommendations in 2011 for parents to keep their children in rear facing car seats until the age of 2.  Delaware law sets a minimum standard that gives parents flexibility to meet the new best practice recommendation set by the AAP and the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).   Delaware law simply requires a child to be “properly secured according to manufacturer’s instructions” in a child safety seat “that is appropriate for the child’s age/weight and height” up to age 8 or 65 lbs in weight, whichever comes first.  Ages 8 – 16 must be secured in a seat belt.

OHS is encouraging parents to follow the wording in the NHTSA guidelines which were also updated to closely mirror the new recommendations by the AAP, but may be easier for parents to understand and follow.  These guidelines recommend that parents keep their 1 – 3 year olds “rear facing as long as possible”, and focus more attention on obeying the manufactures weight and height limits on individual seats using age as a broad guide for rear facing vs. forward facing instead.

Parents who would like to learn more about the 4 steps for child safety and to find the times and dates of car seat check locations can visit OHS website at http://www.ohs.delaware.gov/carseat, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe, or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE.

National Child Passenger Safety Week September 16^th – 22^nd

Dover – The Office of Highway Safety (OHS) will conduct a “National Seat Check Saturday” event on Sept. 22 at the Community Bank Delaware in Lewes.  Certified child passenger safety technicians will be on hand from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to check car seats for proper installation and advise parents and caregivers how to choose the right car seats and install them properly in their vehicles.  The event is taking place as part of Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 16-22), and is free to the public.

This special week is dedicated to promoting the correct and consistent use of child safety seats.  Children using incorrectly installed car seats face dramatically increased rates of death and injury in the event of a crash.

“You can never predict or control what other drivers might do or how the weather might change the safety of a roadway,” said Jana Simpler, Director for OHS.  “As a mother, I know the best way to protect our children from injury or death in a crash is to put them in the right car seats for their age and size and use those seats correctly on every trip, every time.

OHS child passenger Fitting Stations will also be open during the week and taking appointments for car seat checks.  Call for times and dates.

Wilmington DMV         Dover DMV                        DSP Troop 7-Lewes

2230 Hessler Blvd       303 Transportation Cir.    18006 Coastal Hwy

302.434.3234                  302.744.2749                    302.853.1014

Parents are urge to follow NHTSA’s car seat recommendations that recommend parents and caregivers keep children in their restraint types for as long as possible according to manufacturer instructions before moving them to the next type. For maximum safety, a parent or caregiver should have the car seat installation inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure their children are in the right seats for their age and size.  Children 12 and under should always ride in the back seat.

Birth – 12 months

For the best possible protection, your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats: infant-only 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.

1 – 3 years

Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until the child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. This may result in many children riding rear-facing to age 2 or older. 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 the child 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.

8 – 12 years

Keep your child in a booster seat until the child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. 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:

• Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, choose a seat that fits in your vehicle, and use it on every trip, every time.
• Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions; read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or LATCH system; and check height and weight limits.
• To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
• Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.

Delaware law requires each child to be properly restrained in a motor vehicle and children under the age of 8 or 65 lbs in weight (whichever comes first) to be properly secured in a child safety seat.  Additionally, in vehicles with airbags, children under the age of 12 must be seated in the back seat of the vehicle, and it is the driver’s responsibility to make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up and properly secured.  The fine plus fees for violating the law is $83.50.

To learn more about the 4 steps for child safety and to find the times and dates of car seat check locations visit OHS website at http://www.ohs.delaware.gov/information/cps.shtml and www.safercar.gov/therightseat.  Also follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DEHighwaySafe and Like Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ArriveAliveDE for regular campaign updates.