Author: Raymond Cox
Planning Unit: Harlan County CES
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
Plan of Work: Promote Safety, Health, Wellness and Good Nutrition
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
Many families in Harlan County were using car seats that were outdated and in very bad condition. Many of the families were low income and could not afford to buy a new car seat. The Harlan County 4-H Agent applied for a grant in 2015 through "Buckle Up For Life" from Toyota and Cincinnatti Children's Hospital for car seats. The grant was awarded in 2015 in the amount of 65 convertible seats and 26 booster seats. The first Grant was such a huge success we applied for a second Grant in June 2019 and were awarded 50 convertible seats and 26 booster seats. According to Toyota officials, a car seat can drastically reduce childhood deaths and injuries from motor vehicle crashes by up to 75% if they are installed correctly. The 4-H program was responsible for getting families in need of car seats to come to the Harlan County Extension Depot on September 9th, watch a video and listen to State Trooper Shane Jacobs and Specialist Drema Wright from the Cumberland Valley Area Development District in London present a program on car seat safety and correct procedure for installation and then install the seats. According to Jacobs from Post 10 this event is a free service to the community to make sure car seats and restraints are installed correctly. Nationwide and in Kentucky there is about a 95% misuse rate. Officers volunteering must have an extra 32-hour training course to install seats. The type of seat needed doesn't always go by age, but should be determined by weight and size. The convertible seats should be rear facing from birth to 12 months, forward facing is recommended from 1-3 years of age and booster seats are recommended from age 4-7. Buckle up for Life was created in 2004 by Cincinnatti Childrens' Hospital and Toyota to save children's lives. It has grown over the years to more than a dozen children's hospitals and has educated more than 25,000 people on proper installation of car seats. Toyota's funding has provided for over 45,000 car seats for families in need. About 60 perecent in Harlan County said they could not afford new seats or their old seat had expired. This program over the past 4 years had a huge impact by getting over 200 outdated cars seats and boosters out of cars.
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