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Show i .' i IP- : y ' -.- - r .- 60 'S 1 ! -AMI - . ' v THE KINDERGARTEN children at Discovery Elementary will soon be using the new playground equipment the PTA has purchased for them. The slide, jungle gym, balance beams and funnel ball were purchased with funds earned from various school projects during the last two years. Playing here are, top, Catherine Nielson and Nathan Burningham, bottom, Bran-di Bran-di Staley, Kym Muir, Misti Batty, Cody Northern, Troy Anderson, Ronnie Cooper, Lindsay Workman, Braden Oaks and Jeremey LeBeau. Auto accidents first in death of children Keeping our children safe is a rhalknge in all areas and at all ages, jjt one aspect of safety that seems to jet shelved by many parents is that of ar seat safety. Auto accidents are the number one xwntable killer of children ahead i all other types of accidents and iseases. Nearly half of all accidental Jeaths of children ages 1 thru 14 are aised by motor vehicle accidents. More than 50.000 child passengers Dder age 5 are seriously injured in auto accidents each war, 83 percent of lies injuries are to the head and face. B is estimated that about 90 percent of the fatalities and 70 percent of the severe injuries could be prevented with roper use of a child safety seat. Yet approximately 93 percent of all young passengers are not "Buckled Up." Half these that are fastened in are buckled incorrectly. ; Many parents believe that the safest d most loving way to transport a anall child or infant in a car is in their rms. They are certain that if an ac-odent ac-odent is about to occur, they will have lime and the strength to hold the child d protect him or her from injury. Tts is not true. The most dangerous place in a car for a child is on the la p or the arms of an adult. A recent study Krifies this fact In a series of tests at the Highway Safety Research Institute in Michigan, nale and female adult volunteers were safety fastened to a seat with lap and shoulder belts. Each volunteer held a 17 pound "dummy" which represented me size and weight of a six month old baby. Each was then subject to simulated 15 and 30 mph impacts. Not e of the volunteers was able to hold into the "baby". Even knowing the precise moment of impact and using all Iwr strength, the baby was ripped from their arms and slammed into the dashboard. J In a 30 mph crash, a 10 pound infant be slammed forward with a force of Impounds. This is equivalent to falling from a 3-story building. So even in an Kcident at a relatively slow speed, an Retrained child can be thrown into dashboard, through the windshield, other parts of the car or other passengers, or out of the car with aough force to cause serious injury or feath. '. The facts are sufficient to prove that "ants and children should always ride ocar safety seats. Beginning with the ride home from the hospital, all ..aants should ride in a semi-reclined, ,ckward facing car safety seat so that aan accident, much of the crash force will be absorbed by the baby 's stronger back instead of his more delicate chest and abdomen. There are many car seats on the market, but only those which meet a tough new federal motor vehicle safety standard (213) should be considered. It requires that seats made after Jan. 1, 1981. must show good performance in a simulated crash test. Make sure that the unit will be convenient for everyday use. Test it in your car some models do not fit some cars. Some models are convertible from infant to toddler position and will save you from buying a second unit later. However, if your toddler did not have a car seat as an infant, there are car seats made for toddlers, too. They are usually designed to protect children up to about 40 pounds or -10 inches. They face the front of the car and many units are high enough for the child to see out the window. Car seat belts are not recommended for toddlers since they can slip up from the hips to the stomach where they could cause injuries. However, if a safety seat is not available, the seat belt is the next best method of safety and can offer a considerable amount of protection. If the car's shoulder harness har-ness crosses the child's face or neck, use only the lap belt and place the shoulder harness behind the child. The best car seat is the one in which your child w ill be most comfortable. No restraint, no matter how good, will work unless you use it correctly. Every buckle, locking device and snap is on the car seat for a reason. All occupants in a car should "Buckle Up." This includes in-cludes pregnant ladies medical research proves that in a crash, the most serious risk to your baby is that you will be injured. Sit tall and place the lap belt as low as possible on your hips, under the baby. Wear the shoulder harness, too. It gives you and the baby important added protection. Lastly, don't give in to your children when they complain at first, all children will get used to using safety seats. Research has shown that once children are comfortable with their car seats, they behave better than when they are not buckled up. The choice is up to you, parents, grandparent, guardian, the child cannot decide for himself. He must rely totally on you for this one. Information was obtained from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Cosco-Peterson "Travel with Baby" guide. For further information contact the Uintah Basin District Health Department: Duchesne-738-2437 or 722-4601, Roosevelt-722-5085, or Vernal-789-1264. |
