Minnesota Safety Council: Child Car Seat Web Site Tells Parents "You Can Do It!"

CHILD CAR SEAT WEB SITE TELLS PARENTS "YOU CAN DO IT!"

Online Resources Linked to Child Passenger Safety Week, September 12 - 18

MINNEAPOLIS — With national Child Passenger Safety Week about to begin and new booster requirements on the books in Minnesota, AAA Minnesota/Iowa and the Minnesota Safety Council are reminding parents and caregivers that the Web site CarSeatsMadeSimple.org will help them buckle up their children safely. The Web site, developed by the AAA Clubs of Minnesota and the Minnesota Safety Council, in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, offers solutions to parents and other caregivers who face a confusing array of child safety restraint choices and installation options. It has been recently updated with information about Minnesota's expanded child passenger safety law, which prohibits the use of seat belts alone until a child is four feet nine inches tall or eight years old.

"The new law has helped to raise awareness of the risks children face when they aren't buckled up properly for their age and size," said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs for AAA. "Our goal with this Web site is to provide caregivers with clear and comprehensive information and the confidence that they can use if effectively."

Drawing on a number of expert sources, CarSeatsMadeSimple.org provides detailed information about choosing and installing the correct car seat and avoiding common errors. Links to instructional videos demonstrate the correct use of car seats, booster seats and seat belts. The site also provides Minnesota-specific information, explaining the requirements of Minnesota's child passenger restraint law. Installation checklists and information about common errors and Minnesota law are also provided in Spanish, Hmong and Somali.

"Parents and other caregivers hear that most car seats are installed improperly and it shakes their confidence," said Ann Kulenkamp, director of communications for the Minnesota Safety Council. "But a great majority of those errors are very basic and can be avoided."

To view the site, see http://www.carseatsmadesimple.org. Nationally, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 2 to 14. National Child Passenger Safety Week is observed this year from September 12 - 18.

###

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 49 million members in the United States and Canada. The AAA Clubs of Minnesota include AAA Minnesota/Iowa, part of The Auto Club Group, and AAA Minneapolis. The Minnesota Safety Council is a private, not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries at work, on the road, at home and at play, and is a chapter of the National Safety Council.
Additional Pages
News Releases