Child Passenger Safety Project events held in Levelland, Tulia

Writer: Susan Himes, 325-657-7315, [email protected]

Contact: Bev Kellner, 979-862-1782, [email protected]

LUBBOCK — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service offices of Hockley and Swisher counties and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Passenger Safety Project recently held events in Levelland and Tulia aimed at ensuring community members were properly using child car seats.

Nationwide more young children die each year as passengers in vehicle crashes than from any disease or other kinds of unintentional injuries combined, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. In Texas, nearly 40 percent of the children who were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes were reported as unrestrained.

The Levelland and Tulia events were held in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation, Lubbock District. Smith South Plains Ford assisted with the Levelland event.

“We were very pleased to be able to help families in Hockley and Swisher counties with best practice education on car seats,” said Bev Kellner, program manager for AgriLife Extension Passenger Safety Project, College Station.

Kellner offered a special thanks to all of the Levelland volunteers from the presenting and cooperating agencies and from Texas Department of State Health Services and Covenant Hospital. The Tulia event also had volunteers from the AgriLife Extension offices of both Swisher and Lamb counties.

“Working together they all made sure that every child left the event riding safely and that caregivers were educated on how to correctly use their seats,” she said.

The proper use of child safety seats reduces the risk of injury and death, leading to reduced medical costs, avoidance of lost future earnings and an improved quality of life, Kellner said.

There are also economic benefits to the proper use of car seats and the distribution of new seats, Kellner said. The total estimated economic impact for the inspections and the distribution of new car seats as needed at the Levelland event was $22,031; in Tulia it was $17,337.

Statistics from the Levelland event:

• Twenty car seat inspections were conducted.
• Not a single child arrived correctly restrained in their car seat.
• Ten new car seats issued.
• Three old/unsafe car seats were collected.
• Two children arrived incorrectly riding in a seat belt, rather than a car seat.

Statistics from the Tulia event:

• Fourteen car seat inspections were conducted.
• Not a single child arrived correctly restrained in their car seat.
• Nine new car seats were issued.
• One old/unsafe car seat was collected.
• Four children arrived totally unrestrained or incorrectly riding in a seat belt.

For more information, visit the Passenger Safety Project or call 979-862-4658. To learn about upcoming inspection events, contact Kellner at 979-862-1782 or [email protected]  To find a certified technician in Texas to get a car seat inspected, visit http://buckleup.tamu.edu.