Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition Announces
Distribution of Free Child Safety Seats to Low Income Families

(TOPEKA, KAN) Thirty child safety seats will be distributed free of charge to low-income families in Saline, Pottawatomie, Barber, and Clay Counties, Manhattan and Topeka by local chapters of the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition thanks to the Coalition's participation in Phase IV of a nationwide child safety seat distribution program. Recipient families will receive the seats at local education and distribution points led by the Chapters. Training and education on the proper use and installation of the seats will also be provided. In addition, the Coalition will be coordinating their efforts with those of the Lawrence and Wichita SAFE KIDS Coalitions to distribute seats in those areas.

"These seats will allow us to provide parents and care givers tools essential to their child's safety," said Jan Stegelman, Coordinator, Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition. "Countless children are killed or injured each year in motor vehicle crashes -- children who could have been saved if they had been buckled up properly." The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition has distributed a total of 334 free seats throughout the state as part of the nationwide GM settlement.

Automobile crashes are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths in children ages 14 and under. Every year, approximately 80 percent of the children killed or seriously injured are not in a child safety seat or wearing a safety belt. When used correctly, child safety seats are extremely effective in reducing fatalities in motor vehicle crashes. "This program will help us meet the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition's goal of reducing the number of preventable injuries to children. Our local site chapters will ensure that these seats reach families that really need them," said Jan Stegelman.

The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition, Incorporated, is a nonprofit group of sixty statewide organizations and businesses that have joined together to protect Kansas children from unintentional injury -- the leading killer of Kansas kids. The Coalition is part of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign. Kansas currently has two local SAFE KIDS Coalitions: Greater Wichita SAFE KIDS Coalition, and Lawrence SAFE KIDS Coalition. In addition, the Kansas Coalition has seven local chapters in Saline, Clay, Pottawatomie, Barber, and Ford Counties, Manhattan, and Topeka. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is the lead organization for the Coalition.