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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing |
Abstract #153358
Janet E. Weisman, BA, Injury Prevention Unit, DeKalb County Board of Health, 445 Winn Way, Suite 354, Decatur, GA 30030, 404-294-3719, jeweisman@dhr.state.ga.us
To increase awareness of child passenger safety, the DeKalb County Board of Health's Injury Prevention Unit educates both children and adults, using an interactive program, and distributes booster seats to families afterwards. Georgia's child passenger safety law states that children under six years of age must be properly restrained in a car or booster seat and seated in back seat. Safe Kids Worldwide recommends using booster seats for children until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall and 80 to100 pounds. Since 2002, the Board of Health's program has reached approximately 16,000 pre-kindergarten through second grade children attending DeKalb County schools. In addition, 4,400 booster seats have been distributed.
The booster seat event consists of three parts. First, seat belt surveys are conducted as parents, students and staff arrive in the morning. Then, in the classroom, an educational program teaches the children about passenger safety and assesses their knowledge of potential safety hazards while riding in a car. A “show of hands” survey ascertains where children sit in vehicles (front or back seat), how many use a booster seat, and how many routinely do not buckle up. During the seat distribution, parents receive information on the importance of booster seats and how to use them correctly.
Through ongoing assessment, education and seat distribution, the Injury Prevention Unit is increasing awareness about booster seat use and child passenger safety in DeKalb County.
Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives
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At the end of this session, the participant will be able to
- Recognize the importance of proper booster seat use as a method to reduce the incidence of injuries to elementary school children involved in a vehicle crash.
- Identify how children using a seat belt prematurely and incorrectly could cause significant injuries in the event of a car crash.
- Recognize the significance and impact of child passenger safety programs which target both children and parents with the same and consistent educational messages to improve compliance of booster seat use.
Keywords: Injury Prevention, Motor Vehicles
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA