New Survey Finds Kentucky Children at Risk
Ford Motor Company Donates 25,000 Booster Seats to Income-Eligible Kentucky
Families Through United Way, Gives Free Booster Seats to KY Ford Motor Company
Customers Through Toys 'R' Us, and Sends Educational Program to Local Schools
LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 5 Kentucky Lt. Governor Stephen L.
Henry M.D. and his wife, Heather French Henry, Miss America 2000, joined Ford
Motor Company, the Metro United Way in Louisville and a coalition of local and
national partners today to call for a new safety habit in Kentucky-booster
seat use for children who have outgrown traditional child safety seats yet are
still too small to fit properly in adult safety belts. They made the first of
25,000 booster seat donations to needy families in the state as part of Ford's
national Boost America! campaign.
Flanked by children at the Norton Healthcare Pavilion Lt. Governor Henry
said, "Our children are Kentucky's most precious resource, and this program
will help keep them safe as they travel our roads and highways. I would like
to thank Ford Motor Company for its efforts to promote child passenger safety
and for working to make such a difference in the lives of Kentucky's
children."
Heather French Henry expressed concern about the lack of booster seat
usage in Kentucky. "Only 15 percent of Kentucky's children, ages 4-8 are
riding in booster seats when in the family car. Most parents are simply not
aware that these children are not yet big enough to be in adult safety belts.
Stephen and I are committed to educating parents and helping save their
children's lives."
The Boost America! national campaign's three key elements include: 1) an
educational component, sent to all pre- and elementary schools in the nation
(152,000 total), featuring a video by superstars Will Smith and Jada Pinkett
Smith for older children and a preschool kit featuring Blue from Nickelodeon's
"Blues Clues;" 2) distribution of one million free booster seats nationwide
through United Way agencies and Ford Motor Company dealers, in cooperation
with Toys "R" Us; and 3) a push for sensible, state-level booster seat laws.
A new Wirthlin Worldwide survey commissioned by Boost America! found that
91 percent of Kentucky parents/caregivers of four- to eight-year-olds have
heard of booster seats, yet only 15 percent use them for their children.
Nearly 73 percent are unaware of the correct ages for booster seat use.
According to Medford Lee, Ford Motor Company's Kentucky Truck Plant Human
Resource Manager, "Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of
booster seats and ultimately save lives. Boost America! is the most extensive
child safety campaign ever by an automaker."
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show
that crash-related fatalities have declined steadily for infants and younger
children because most ride in child safety seats. But there is no similar
reduction in fatalities among children ages four through eight because booster
seat use nationally is only about 20 percent.
Safety experts say booster seats provide a necessary transition for
children who have outgrown child safety seats, but are not big enough to use
adult safety belts alone. A booster seat raises a child up so that adult
lap/shoulder belts fit and protect better -- snugly across the chest and low
across the hips.
As part of the one million seats giveaway, Boost America! will provide
500,000 seats to low-income families nationally through United Way agencies
across the country and 500,000 seats to Ford customers through Ford
dealerships and Toys "R" Us. Twenty-five thousand (25,000) seats will be
distributed by United Way agencies in Kentucky and through other safety
partners across the state. Through the International Center for Injury
Prevention, families receiving a free booster seat will be given individual
instruction on proper use of the seat by a certified child passenger safety
technician.
A giveaway event is already planned in Louisville, October 13th at the
Louisville Motor Speedway from 10:00 a.m.--2:00 p.m. Those who think they may
qualify for a free booster seat should call 502-629-7337 in the Louisville
area and 502-875-1675 in the Frankfort area. A Frankfort giveaway event is
tentatively scheduled for October 13th as well. Others will take place across
the state over the coming months and will be announced accordingly.
Said Terry Tolan, President of United Way of Kentucky, "As a leader in
community problem-solving, United Way is always looking for resources to help
families. Child safety is a major focus, and through partnerships with
generous corporations like Ford Motor Company, United Way is better able to
reach people with the services they need."
In addition, Ford Motor Company is providing booster seats to its
customers statewide through participating Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo,
Jaguar, Land Rover and Mazda dealers. Customers are being given vouchers for
a free or discounted booster seat at Toys "R" Us stores and more than 170,000
vouchers have been redeemed nationwide.
Dan Hannay, District Manager of Indiana and Western Kentucky for Toys "R"
Us said, "We are pleased to participate in this important campaign to promote
booster seat safety. Our mission at Toys "R" Us is to improve the lives of
children, and this initiative will go a long way in doing just that."
More information is available at http://www.boostamerica.org or
866-BOOST-KID.