Car Seat Safety Coalition Supports Bill 73 – “An act to enhance the safety of children and youth on Ontario’s roads”

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and serious injury among children and youth (Canadian Institute of Child Health). Starting September 1 2005, the Highway Traffic Act requires booster seats for children who have outgrown child car seats but are still too small to be properly protected by seatbelts alone.

A booster seat is a positioning device that raises the child so that the seat belt (designed to fit an adult) fits a child correctly. Booster seats provide 60 per cent more protection than seat belts alone, and substantially reduce the risk of serious injury.

The Renfrew County Car Seat Safety Coalition is working to raise awareness about this valuable injury prevention legislation. The following public awareness initiatives were implemented in 2005:

· Renfrew County & District Health Unit developed four booster seat displays for use across Renfrew County. These displays were used at two fairs and eight Child Health Clinics in September.

· Monthly draws for a booster seat were held at the Child Health Clinics from January to September 2005. Ten families won booster seats.

· A poster was developed collaboratively with two other health units in eastern Ontario. These posters were distributed to key locations in Renfrew County.