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New Child Car Seat Web Site Tells Parents "You Can Do It!"
Resources also available in Spanish, Hmong, Somali MINNEAPOLIS - As tens of thousands of Minnesota families hit the road for Thanksgiving, a new Web site will help them buckle up their children safely for the holiday and for everyday travel. CarSeatsMadeSimple.org, 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. "We want to provide caregivers with the proper resources and the confidence that they can choose the right seat and install it properly," said Randy Williams, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "Our hope is that this will increase the correct use of all types of child passenger restraints." Drawing on a number of expert sources, CarSeatsMadeSimple.org provides detailed information about choosing and installing the correct car seat and avoiding common errors. The site answers common questions, such as when a child is ready for a booster seat or for a vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt. 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 and additional steps safety experts recommend. 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 Carol Bufton, president of the Minnesota Safety Council. "But a great majority of those errors are very basic and can be avoided." Empowering parents, providing an accessible resource and reducing the strain on community-based car seat clinics (which are often booked for months in advance) were primary goals in creating the site. "More children over the age of 2 die in motor vehicle crashes than from all childhood diseases combined," said Steve Frank, president of AAA Minneapolis, "and the best way to keep a child from becoming a statistic is to use the right safety restraint on every trip." To view the site, see http://www.carseatsmadesimple.org. ### 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. The mission of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety, is to reduce the number and severity of traffic crashes in Minnesota. Additional Pages News Releases |
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