AAA Chicago and University of Michigan Health System Launch 'Booster Seat Story' for Young Children

Sammy the Squirrel Makes Booster Seats Fun

AURORA, Ill., Feb. 11 -- In a collaborative effort designed to appeal directly to young children, AAA Chicago and the University of Michigan Program for Injury Research and Education (UMPIRE) have authored a color storybook and a coloring book that promote booster seat use among child passengers from 4-8 years of age.

The books -- both titled What's Right For Me? -- feature Sammy the Squirrel, his parents and the Otters -- a family of four with both a child safety seat and a booster seat installed in their vehicle. Departing from traditional occupant safety literature, the publications focus on the child's point of view regarding comfort, visibility and the excitement of choosing a new booster seat.

"Our hope is that kids will want a booster seat after reading or hearing this story," said Steve JN. Bernth, AAA Chicago President and COO. "The safety community has had limited success reaching parents with its booster seat safety message. This time, we're going to the source."

According to UMPIRE Program Administrator Sandra Wilcock, there is a tendency among parents and other caregivers to transition their children from child safety seats directly to an adult safety belt and/or shoulder harness. That means child passengers in the critical age range between 4 and 8 are at higher risk for death or injury in the event of a crash.

"People think that after their child turns 4 he or she doesn't need a car seat anymore," said Wilcock. "Nothing could be further from the truth."

According to Wilcock, a young child wearing only an adult safety belt can suffer serious or fatal injury if the safety belt rides up over his or her stomach or neck.

"A recent government study showed that less than half of parents and caregivers were even aware of booster seats. Most had no concerns about their child's safety in an adult seat belt," said Wilcock. "Placing children in age-appropriate restraint systems reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half."

To stress the importance of booster seats in reducing injuries and deaths among child passengers, AAA Chicago and UMPIRE will donate What's Right for Me? storybooks to elementary schools throughout AAA's Chicago service territory in Illinois and Northern Indiana. This color booklet is designed specifically for teacher use with groups of young students, and will include teaching points and tips for parents.

The coloring book version of What's Right for Me? can be ordered by teachers and is available to the general public at no charge at local AAA branch offices or online at aaa.com (enter your ZIP code and go to: About Us, Press Releases).

Vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 2 to 14 years old. In 2003, 2,136 children died in motor vehicle crashes across the U.S. To help prevent these sobering statistics, AAA Chicago and UMPIRE offer the following booster seat tips:

   -- Belt-positioning booster seats play a critically important role in
      transitioning children from a child seat (with its own harness) to an
      adult lap and shoulder belt.  A booster seat helps correctly position
      safety belts so that the lap belt rests on your child's thighs below
      the hipbone, while the shoulder belt crosses the middle of your
      child's chest and does not cut into his or her neck.

   -- Booster seats can only be used with a lap and shoulder safety belt
      combination.  They are not designed to work with lap belts alone.

   -- Children should use booster seats from about age 4 (about 40 pounds)
      to at least 8 years of age or 4 feet, 9 inches tall.  All children,
      ages 12 and younger, should always ride properly secured in the back
      seat of a vehicle, unless one is not available.

   -- A high-back booster seat should be used in vehicles that are not
      equipped with height adjustable headrests or high seat backs.

   -- Never use after-market products such as safety belt adjusters.  These
      products have not been crash-tested and may compromise your child's
      safety.

   -- Always read and follow the manufacturer's directions for your child's
      booster seat as well as the directions provided in your vehicle's
      owner's manual.

For more than 100 years, AAA has represented the interests of the nation's motorists and served as an advocate for various traffic safety and travel related issues. AAA Chicago has served that role in Illinois since its founding in 1906.

AAA Chicago 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 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada.