Sec’y of State Jesse White holds Child Passenger Safety Seat Check Event at Kelvyn Park High School

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White joined 31^st Ward Alderman Ray Suarez for a child passenger safety seat check event and booster seat giveaway at Kelvyn Park High School.  The event was aimed at encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure children are properly secured in appropriate child safety seats.

 “The leading cause of death and injury for children is automobile crashes,” White said, while at the high school at 4343 W. Wrightwood Ave. “Safety seat check events like this one help parents and caregivers make sure their children are properly secured because the majority of seats are not.”

 In Illinois, three out of four child safety seats are improperly installed, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger vehicles.
• In 2011, 4,170 drivers in Illinois were ticketed for not having their children restrained. 
• In 2009, among children under 5 years old in passenger vehicles, an estimated 309 lives were saved by restraint use.
• The Illinois Child Passenger Protection Act states that children under the age of 8 years old must be secured in an appropriate child restraint system, including booster seats. 
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children ride rear facing until two-years-old if possible. According to AAP, children are 75% safer rear-facing than forward-facing.  Children should be rear-facing for a minimum one year and weigh 20 pounds.

White’s office was joined by officials from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Chicago Fire Department, Chicago Police Department and Safe Kids.

The Secretary of State’s office, through its Kids In Safe Seats program, has seven fitting stations in Illinois where motorists can set up appointments or be referred to technicians in their area who can show them how to install their child safety seats properly. Safety seat technicians teach parents how to install more than 50 child safety seats a month in the Chicago metro area.  

To make an appointment or get more information, please call 866-247-0213 or visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com.