Automotive Safety: Safe Kids Denver

Burt Chevrolet Teams Up with Safe Kids and the Cub Scouts

Tested: 11/11/2006 to 11/11/2006

SafeKids

It’s a typical start to the weekend. We’ve got an action-packed day, birthday party and all. But after all of the fun, sugar and hype, we embark on something out of the ordinary, as I take the kids to Burt Chevrolet where Safe Kids Denver Metro is presenting automotive safety information to the Cub Scouts from Pack 662. Denver was selected as one of 10 cities throughout the U.S. to put on this pilot program, which enables Cub Scouts ages 6-10 from selected packs the opportunity to earn a brand new patch: automotive safety. I learn that the Cb Souts from Den 662 must complete six interactive stations, each of which deal with topics such as proper booster seat and seat belt usage, avoidance of trunk entrapment, the danger of being in a car alone and the how to’s regarding GM’s OnStar emergency-calling feature. In an effort to create a family learning environment, parents and siblings are encouraged to attend as well, and I note that Burt Chevrolet is bustling with people of all ages. As a matter of fact, I am impressed with how Chevrolet’s garage space has been transformed into an interesting learning stage.

While watching the scouts scurry from one station to the next, I am made aware of the widespread problem of children graduating from their child safety seats but then failing to use booster seats (which they are to remain in until an approximate height of 4-foot-9 and weight from 80 to 100 lbs, typically reached between the ages of 8 to 12). I shudder when I read the statistic that booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 59% compared with the use of only an adult safety belt (according to NHTSA, Improving the Safety of Older Child Passengers, 2005). Wow, we NEED to get the word out! I also learn that when used correctly, proper child safety restraints lower the risk of fatal injury by 80% compared to those children who are unrestrained (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 1997). OK, now I’m just counting my blessings that I’m even here on planet Earth, as I grew up in a generation when the use of car seats was about as popular as cleaning really nasty toilets.

At the trunk entrapment station, I witness children climbing through the main cabin of a sedan into the trunk of the car to gain a familiarity with the interior trunk release handle. Since the standard was not compulsory until 2001, older cars are not outfitted with this potentially life-saving feature. My 5-year-old learns that “trunks are for elephants, not for kids.” I watch him absorb the information that one must NEVER play in the trunk of a car, even if it’s just hide-and-seek, as temperatures can soar to dangerous levels within minutes. He asks me a couple of questions and I can tell he GOT it. Kudos to the Safe Kids representative, Amy Teddy, public education specialist with South Metro Fire Rescue!

Next I move on to the OnStar station with intern Margi Tanis, where children can climb into a vehicle and speak with a live OnStar representative. All questions are fair game, and I listen intently when a charming 4-year-old asks: “What do I do when I’m caught in a tree?” A patient OnStar advisor recommends pushing the red Emergency OnStar button for immediate help.

Last but not least, Tristen Gesert, a Wolf Scout, age 8, grants me an interview. Sitting at a table next to his 5-year-old brother, Dylan, enjoying a slice of pizza, he beams as he looks at me. He proudly says that he’s been a scout since age 7 and shows off some of his patches, including today’s newly earned automotive safety patch. When I ask him what he learned, he mentions, “Not hiding in the trunk or playing hide and go seek. Call OnStar for help when in trouble. Never leave a child alone in the car because it can get hot and dangerous. You have to be 4-foot-9 to be without a booster seat.” Wow, Tristen…you’ve got it down pat! Is it any wonder, when I ask him what he wants to be someday, that he responds, “help save animals and be a doctor.” His mother smiles, obviously appreciative for all that her child has learned today.

“This truly shows the commitment that Burt Chevrolet has to our community and to vehicle safety. This is a chance for us to work cooperatively with the Cub Scouts to reach an important demographic – families with boys ages 6 through 10 – and teach them how to make good decisions in and around vehicles.” Diane Webster, Customer Relations Manager, Burt Chevrolet on Broadway.|