Taylor-Parker hosting children's safety day
SANDPOINT — In an effort to heighten driver and pedestrian safety awareness for children prior to Halloween, Taylor-Parker Motor Company has partnered with the Sandpoint Police and Fire Departments to provide free child and infant safety seat inspections and child bike helmet fittings.
On Saturday, parents, grandparents and other child caregivers can stop by Taylor-Parker Motor Company in downtown Sandpoint from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to have their child’s infant or booster safety seat inspected to make sure it meets safety requirements and has been correctly installed. Children can also have their bike helmets fitted by a trained fitter.
Inspections will be provided free of charge by certified inspectors from the Sandpoint Police and Fire Departments. Inspectors are Kathy Hughes, Mark Ogg, Clint Frank and Anna Schramm. Anna Schramm is a senior inspector who is also certified to check the certified inspectors.
According to The National Transportation Safety Board, each year approximately 1,800 children ages 14 and under are killed as occupants in motor vehicles, and more than 280,000 are injured. Although 96 percent of parents who use child safety seats, booster seats and safety belts to protect their children think they are doing it correctly, check ups continually show that 4 out of 5 unintentionally make mistakes that could result in their child being injured or killed in a crash.
The National Highway Traffic Association states that more than one-fifth of all bicyclist deaths occur among school age youth ages 5 to 15. Head injuries are the most serious type of injury and the most common cause of death for bicyclists. Bicycle helmets, when correctly fitted, have been proven to reduce the risk of head and brain injury when a crash occurs by as much as 85 to 88 percent.
With recent traffic fatalities and injuries in our community it is important to take steps to protect our children and educate ourselves.
Children and their parents or caregivers can enjoy a free barbeque lunch as well as give-aways, and educational material.