AAA Minnesota/Iowa Initiates Free Child Passenger Safety Speakers Bureau

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Nov. 17, 2004 -- To help educate parents and caregivers in child passenger safety, AAA Minnesota/Iowa today began a speakers bureau program of child passenger safety experts to speak at parent, church or community meetings across both states.

"We are committed to doing all we can to ensure the safety of our youngest and most vulnerable passengers," said Jeff Ogden, president and chief operating officer of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "Statistics highlight automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for children. The majority of deaths occur with no child restraint being used, and most restraints that are used are installed incorrectly," continued Ogden.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa has licensed child safety experts available to speak for no charge to MOMS (Mothers Offering Mothers Support), MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers), ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education), or any other community group interested in this subject. AAA's speakers are available to address proper selection of child restraints, correct installation of child safety restraints, current child passenger safety laws and ideal child passenger safety laws.

"Most children who are riding in unsafe or extremely outdated car seats are doing so simply because their parents or caregivers have not been given accurate information," said Gail Weinholzer, director of public affairs for AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "These common installation mistakes could result in serious injury or death to children restrained in these seats."

To schedule a free presentation for your local organization, contact Phil Wedgwood, at (515) 457-5359.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa, which includes more than 720,000 members, offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 3.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 47 million members in the United States and Canada.