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Preventing Accidental Injury. Contact: Cherie Sage, 785-296-1223, or |
A Five-Second Walk around the Car Could Prevent
More Than 200 Deaths per Year to Children
Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents to spot their tot before starting the engine
Topeka – Kan. It’s springtime, and that means more children are playing outside. Unfortunately, in that rush to get to the store before it closes, or in the frenzy of getting the entire family in the car to go to Grandma’s house, the focus is often on what is in the car – not what is around it. Safe Kids Kansas encourages anyone driving a vehicle to walk completely around it to check for children, pets, or toys before getting in and starting the engine.
In the United States in 2007, it was estimated there were 5,000 injuries and 205 deaths to children under age 14 as a result of being hit by a vehicle in a driveway or parking area. These incidences are known as “backovers” or “frontovers,” depending on direction.
“We believe these injuries and deaths are preventable as too many result from a driver not seeing children who might be playing, running after, or standing near their vehicle,” says Cherie Sage, State Director of Safe Kids Kansas. “What is truly tragic about these stories is that oftentimes, the drivers are friends or even family members.”
Parents and caregivers can follow these simple, low-tech tips to help make sure that children remain safe around vehicles:
- Before getting in the car and starting the engine – walk all the way around the parked vehicle to make sure children and pets are not under or behind it. When possible, engage older kids as helpers to accomplish this.
- Ensure that young children are always accompanied by an adult when getting in and out of a vehicle.
- Talk to your children and identify a safe play area for them to use far away from parked or moving vehicles.
- Identify a safe spot for children to go when nearby vehicles are about to move.
- Know where the children are. When walking near moving vehicles, in driveways, in parking lots, or on sidewalks – make sure to firmly hold the hand of each child that is with you.
- Avoid using driveways as play areas if moving cars have access entering or exiting these areas.
- Supervise children at play. Remind them not to play in neighbors’ driveways or alleys where drivers may not be expecting or watching for children.
“Every vehicle has blind zones, in front and in back, regardless of how large or small that vehicle is. So, no matter how important it is at that moment for you to get to your destination on time,” says Sage, “taking a five-second walk around your car to make sure that children are not in harm’s way could save your family and your child from a lifetime of physical and emotional pain.”
To learn more about keeping your children safe in and around cars, visit www.usa.safekids.org. and search for “Spot the Tot”.
Safe Kids Kansas, Inc. is a nonprofit Coalition of over 70 statewide organizations and businesses dedicated to preventing accidental injuries to Kansas children ages 0-14. Local coalitions and chapters cover Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Butler, Clay, Coffey, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Elk, Ellis, Finney, Geary, Harvey, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Marion, Marshall, McPherson, Meade, Mitchell, Montgomery, Pottawatomie, Riley, Saline, Sedgwick, Shawnee, Smith, Sumner, and Wilson counties, as well as the city of Emporia and the Metro Kansas City Area (Wyandotte county and several Missouri counties.) Safe Kids Kansas a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. The lead agency for Safe Kids Kansas is the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Visit us at www.safekidskansas.org.