AAA Minnesota/Iowa Offers Child Passenger Safety Education to Childcare Providers, Helping Them Meet New State Statute Requirements

BURNSVILLE, Minn., Oct. 13, 2005 -- AAA Minnesota/Iowa announced today it will offer training sessions in Child Passenger Safety (CPS) to childcare and foster care providers in several of its Minnesota offices.

A new statute requiring licensed providers to attend and successfully complete a training course was passed during the Special Legislative Session in 2005. Beginning Jan. 1, 2006, providers are required to complete the training before being allowed to transport children under age 9 in their care.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children over age 1. Additionally, recent research conducted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance Companies indicates that appropriate child restraints for the 4-8 age group reduces the injury rate in car crashes by 59 percent over adult seat belts use alone.

"Most children who are riding unsafely in car seats are doing so simply because their caregivers have not been given accurate information," said Randy Williams, president of AAA Minnesota/Iowa. "Our goal is to heighten childcare providers' awareness of the importance of proper selection, use and installation of car seats used by the children in their care."

Curriculum provided by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, developed in conjunction with AAA Minnesota/Iowa, will be used for these training sessions.

AAA Minnesota/Iowa will offer the class free to AAA members, but will charge $15 per participant for nonmembers. Reservations are required by calling Shannon Swanson at (952) 707-4623. Please specify the date you would like to attend.

  Classes will be held at the following AAA offices:

  -- Maplewood (Birch Run Station) - October 20 at 6 - 9 p.m.
     1727 Beam Avenue, Suite A

  -- St. Cloud - October 22 at 1 - 4 p.m.
     3959 Second Street South, Suite 210

  -- Burnsville - October 27 at 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
     600 West Travelers Trail

  -- West St. Paul - November 3 at 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
     2A Signal Hills Center

  -- Rochester - November 5 at 12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
     1535 Greenview Drive SW

  -- Burnsville - November 17 at 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
     600 West Travelers Trail

  -- Maplewood (Birch Run Station) - December 1 at 6 - 9 p.m.
     1727 Beam Avenue, Suite A

  -- Mankato (Midwest Plaza) - December 3 at 10 a.m. -1 p.m.
     1217 Caledonia St.

  -- Burnsville - December 8 at 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
     600 West Travelers Trail

  -- Coon Rapids (Village Ten Shopping Center) - December 15 at 6 - 9 p.m.
     2170 Northdale Boulevard

AAA ( http://www.aaa.com/ ) offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, with 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states.