KANSAS SAFE KIDS REMINDS PARENTS TO TAKE PROPER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS DURING HEAVY LABOR DAY TRAVEL WEEKEND

Keep Your Kids Safe in an Automobile or Airplane

With the summer quickly coming to an end, thousands of families set off for one last vacation during the Labor Day holiday weekend. But amidst the chaos of holiday travel, whether in a car or an airplane - and especially with kids - it is important for parents to make safety a priority.

"Parents may become so overwhelmed with planning their trip that they overlook basic travel safety rules," said Jan Stegelman, Kansas SAFE KIDS Coordinator. "Parents and caregivers should put safety at the top of their list when preparing for a trip - whether it's two minutes down the road or 2,000 miles across the country."

For many families with small children, traveling by car is not only the most convenient way to travel but also the most affordable option. However, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading killer of children ages 14 and under. Each year, more than 1,600 children ages 14 and under die in motor vehicles crashes, and an estimated 228,000 more children suffer injuries. The Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition recommends the following information to help keep children safe while traveling in a motor vehicle:

• Always read and follow the vehicle owner's manual and child safety seat instructions.
• Choose a child safety seat that is appropriate for the child's size and age.
• Get a tight fit. An installed child safety seat should not move more than one inch from side to side or toward the front of the vehicle.
• Keep harness straps snug and flat. Fasten the harness clip at armpit level.
• Restrain all children ages 12 and under properly in the back seat on every ride.
• NEVER put a rear-facing child in a front seat with an active passenger air bag.
• Be certain that everyone in the car is correctly buckled, even on short trips.

While flying is still the safest way to travel long distances, preventable injuries can happen in the air as well. The people at highest risk of injury and, in rare cases, even death are those who are not buckled up correctly.

Although it is not currently required on aircraft, children should be secured in child safety seats until they weigh at least 40 pounds (depending on your child safety seat model). Older or larger children should be secured by aircraft lap belts. Properly restraining children and adults provides protection during takeoff and landing, in cases of clear air turbulence, and in survivable crashes. Most rear-facing and forward-facing child safety seats bear labels that they meet FAA requirements, but booster seats cannot be used on airplanes. Bringing your child's safety seat with you also means you have it with you when you land.

"Some parents unknowingly put their children at risk when flying with them on their laps," said Stegelman. "All children 40 pounds and under should be in child safety seats on airplanes. Older children and adults should be in safety belts."

Before traveling, it is recommended that you check your safety seat for FAA compliance labeling and contact the airline for child safety seat policies or possibly an additional seat discount.

To reduce the risk of injury, SAFE KIDS offers these safety tips to help make traveling less stressful for parents and keep children safe on airplanes:

• Buy a ticket for your child. Most airlines offer half-price tickets for children ages 2 and under.
• Make sure your child/infant safety seat is certified for use on an aircraft and that the width does not exceed 16 inches.
• Restrain children over 40 pounds in safety belts throughout the flight.
• Plan activities lasting about 10 minutes for the flight. That is the approximate length of the average child's attention span. Plan extra activities to cover delays and time on the ground.

Whether traveling on the road or in the air during the holidays, it is important to properly restrain your children on every ride. Through the National SAFE KIDS Campaign's SAFE KIDS BUCKLE UP® program, many SAFE KIDS coalitions hold Car Seat Check Up events on an ongoing basis throughout the country. At these events, safety technicians check child safety seats for proper installation and age/size appropriateness. They also check whether seats have been recalled or are visibly damaged. Coalitions in some areas also have permanent Child Safety Seat Inspection Stations that are staffed by certified child passenger safety technicians.

To locate the event or inspection station closest to you, or for more information on keeping your children safe while traveling, please visit www.safekids.org, or call 785-296-0351.

Kansas SAFE KIDS, Inc. is a nonprofit coalition of 67 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters are located in Anderson, Clay, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Ford, Franklin, Johnson, Marion, Montgomery, Osage, Pottawatomie, Rice, Saline, and Shawnee Counties, as well as Chanute, Hutchinson, Junction City, Leavenworth, Manhattan, Norton, Pittsburg, and Wichita. Kansas SAFE KIDS is affiliated with the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.