Boost America! Warns Parents Traveling on Memorial Day Weekend

            25,000 of One Million Free Boosters Already Given Away

    DEARBORN, Mich., May 24 Memorial Day weekend is one of the
busiest travel times of the year, and increased travel may mean increased
traffic crashes -- many of which will involve children.  However, according to
Boost America!, a national child safety coalition, there are simple steps
parents can take to better protect their children while traveling.

    A recent state-by-state survey commissioned by Boost America!, indicates
that only about 21 percent of the 20 million children who should be riding on
a booster seat (generally aged four to eight) are doing so.  The federal
government also confirms more than 500 children age four to eight are killed
each year, and thousands more are injured seriously because they ride either
unprotected, or use adult safety belts that do not fit them properly.

    That's why Boost America! is warning parents about the need for booster
seats, providing motorists with lifesaving child safety tips, and giving away
one million free boosters to help jump start greater booster seat use.  Since
the campaign launched on April 30th, 25,000 free seats have already been given
to the public, and the campaign will continue rolling out to all 50 states
during the next year.

    "Whether they are headed to the beaches, mountains, parks or neighborhood
barbecues, millions of Americans will take to the roads this Memorial Day
weekend.  We owe it to the children in particular, to ensure that everyone is
riding safely.  Adults should wear their safety belts, infants should ride in
car safety seats and the 'in between' kids who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds
should ride in booster seats," said Elaine Kizewski, ICIP's Executive Director
and Boost America! spokesperson.

    According to Kizewski:

    * Most children between 40 and 80 pounds (generally ages four to eight),
      should ride in a booster seat.
    * If a car's safety belt cuts across the child's neck and/or rides up on
      the child's stomach, that child likely needs a booster seat.
    * Belt positioning booster seats -- those that lift the child and provide
      a shorter seat cushion to help the car's safety belts fit properly --
      are recommended by most safety experts.
    * Shoulder belts are critical to use with booster seats -- using a booster
      seat without a shoulder belt increases the risk of a child's head being
      injured in a crash.
    * Booster seats -- and the children who use them -- should be placed in
      the back seat, the safest place for children to ride.
    * Children should never place shoulder belts behind their backs or under
      their arms because that will greatly increase the risk of severe injury
      in a crash since they won't have upper body protection.
    * Parents should always set the example by buckling-up themselves and
      ensuring all their passengers are wearing safety belts, and using
      booster or car safety seats as appropriate.

    The largest child passenger safety program in history, Boost America! is a
$30 million educational and booster seat giveaway campaign sponsored by Ford
Motor Company, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), United Way of America, the International Center for
Injury Prevention (ICIP) and a host of other national organizations.  Half of
the program's one million free boosters are going to Ford customers and half
are going to needy families.  Educational materials featuring superstar couple
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, as well as Blue from Nickelodeon's Blue's
Clues, were also sent to every preschool and elementary school in the country.

    Kizewski concluded, "Boost America!'s message to parents is clear:  On
this Memorial Day, and every day of the year, children between four and eight
should ride in booster seats, or they face greater risk of being hurt or even
killed in a traffic crash.  It's just that simple."