~ Booster Blitz Events planned across
the state to help
educate parents & kids ~
The change means thousands of 6- and 7-year-olds across the state
will have to begin riding in booster seats if they are not already
doing so. Previously, the law required only 4 and 5-year-olds to
be in boosters.
“The state has taken a big step forward in protecting kids from
serious crash injuries that result from wearing seat belts that were
simply not designed to protect small bodies,” said Col. James
Wolfinbarger, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Many parents
mistakenly believe that a seat belt is enough to protect their older
child in a crash, but we know booster seats are a safer option because
they lift the child up and position the seat belt safely across
them.”
Children ages 4 to 7 who use booster seats are 45% less likely to be
injured in a crash compared children who are restrained only by seat
belts. In Colorado from 2004 through 2008, 28 children ages 4 to 7 were
killed in traffic crashes. Twenty of them were improperly restrained,
totally unrestrained or using only the vehicle seat belt.
“It is important that we give children an opportunity for a brighter
future by giving them the best odds of surviving a crash and avoiding
serious injuries,” said Dr. Todd Porter of Safe Kids Denver
Metro. “For children who have outgrown a car seat, a booster seat
is the next best thing to truly protect them. It literally lifts
the child up so that the lap belt rests across hip bones to protect
internal organs, and it positions the shoulder strap so it rests across
the collar bone instead of on the neck or falling off the
shoulder.”
In addition to expanding the use of booster seats, the revised law
gives parents more flexibility in choosing the best safety seat for
their child or baby, as long as they adhere to the upper weight and
height limits set by the seat’s manufacturer and follow installation
instructions. However, the law does set the following minimum
requirements:
- Babies under 1 year old and less than 20 pounds must ride in a
rear-facing car seat and only in the back seat of the
vehicle.
- Once babies turn 1 year old and weigh at least 20
pounds, the law gives them the option of using a front-facing car
seat. Rear-facing car seats are still allowed by law and safety
experts recommend that parents continue using them to the upper weight
limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer because it provides the most
protection.
- Children ages 4, 5, 6 and 7 must continue to be protected in a
child safety restraint. For most kids in this age group that
means a booster seat, but experts recommend that children remain in a
forward-facing car seat longer if the upper weight limit of the seat
allows it (usually 40-50 pounds).
- When a child turns 8, the law allows them to use a vehicle seat
belt. But for the best protection, safety experts recommend that
kids continue to use a booster seat until they are at least 4’9” tall,
which half of children will not reach until they are 11 years
old.
- The minimum fine is $82 per violation. All child
passenger safety violations are primary enforcement. There is a
one-year education period for booster seat violations only.
To assist parents in determining the best child safety seat for
their child and to make sure it is installed properly, there is a
network of more than 140 “fitting stations” across the state as part of
CPS Team Colorado. Most of the fit stations offer free assistance
for parents, including car seat checks to make sure seats are installed
properly. For parents facing financial hardship, some fit
stations provide car seats at a reduced price or for a small donation.
Parents can find a fit station closest to them by visiting www.carseatscolorado.com or
calling toll free 1-877-LUV-TOTS or 303-239-4625 in Metro Denver.
Over the next several weeks, CPS Team Colorado, Safe Kids Colorado
and safety advocates across the state will host special events to
provide more information about booster seats and the expanded
law. Some of the events will include an opportunity for kids to
“bling” their booster by decorating and customizing it.
“Your child’s safety should not be negotiable, but it doesn’t have
to be a battle either,” said Selena Silva of The Children’s
Hospital. “We suggest parents include booster-age kids in
the process by allowing them to help pick out their booster and even
decorate it. Let them know the booster is for their safety and
point out benefits like a better view out the window!”
The following is a list of statewide events over the next few weeks
where parents can get help and advice from trained child passenger
safety technicians:
Saturday,
July 31
Denver, CO
Booster Seat Saturday – Safe Kids Denver Metro
St. Anthony Central Hospital - Kuhlman building parking lot
4001 W. 16th (corner of 16th & Perry)
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug.
3
Edwards, CO
Booster Seat Blitz at National Night Out
Freedom Park
450 Miller Ranch Road
4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Yuma, CO
National Night Out – Car Seat Check Event
Yuma Community Center
421 East 2nd Avenue
5 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, August
5th
Child Safety Seat Check Up Event
Cheyenne Wells, CO
Cheyenne County Health Dept.
1 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Friday,
August 6th
Denver, CO
Child Seat Check Event
Eastside Family Health Center
501 28th Street in Five Points
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Saturday,
August 7th
Colorado Springs, CO
Booster Seat Blitz at KKTV 11 Kid’s Day Event
Mr. Bigg’s
5825 Mark Dabling Blvd.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Lakewood, CO
Whole Foods Back to School Safety Event
with West Metro Fire & St Anthony Hospitals
Whole Foods Belmar Store
444 S. Wadsworth Blvd
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Trinidad, CO
Child Safety Seat Check Up Event
Trinidad Ambulance
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday,
August 13th
Fort Collins, CO
Booster Seat Blitz with Safe Kids Larimer County
Salud Family Health Clinic - 1635 Blue Spruce Drive
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Grand Junction, CO
Booster Seat Blitz and Car Seat Check
Mesa County Health Department
530 29 ½ Road
8:30 a.m. to Noon
Saturday,
August 14 – Booster Blitz Saturday!
Akron, CO
Car Seat Check Event
Washington County Connections
77 Main Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bayfield, CO
Booster Seat Blitz – Bling Your Booster!
Eagle Park
160 Business Route
10 a.m. to Noon
Black Forest, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Black Forest Festival
Shoup Rd. & Black Forest Rd.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Broomfield, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Presented by North Suburban Medical Center
K-Mart
5005 W. 120th Avenue
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Commerce City, CO
Booster Seat Blitz (Spanish-speaking technicians available)
Rancho Liborio
6040 East 64th Avenue
1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Cortez, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Location TBD
10 a.m. to Noon
For info call SUCAP, Diane Downing 970-563-9907
Delta, CO
Booster Seat Blitz - Western Regional Occupant Safety Coalition
Hellman Chevrolet
900 Main Street
10 a.m. to Noon
Eagle, CO
Booster Seat Blitz –Bling Your Booster!
Eagle Swimming Pool
1700 Bull Pasture Road
Noon to 3 p.m.
Greeley, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Greeley Mall, exact location TBD
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ignacio, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
SUCAP
295 Lakin Street
10 a.m. to Noon
Lamar, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Lamar State Patrol Office
111 W. Parmenter Street
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pueblo, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Wal-Mart
78 North McCulloch Blvd.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Rocky Ford, CO
Tri-County Family Care Center
Arkansas Valley Fair Grounds
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Silverton, CO
Booster Seat Blitz
Location TBD
10 a.m. to Noon
For info call SUCAP, Diane Downing at 970-563-9907
Sunday,
August 15th
Denver, CO
Booster Seat Blitz – Bling Your Booster!
Real Baby
3600 W. 32nd Avenue
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, August
28th
Evergreen, CO
Drive Smart Evergreen/Conifer
Gysin Insurance
27886 Meadow Dr.
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Wednesday,
Sept 1st
Wray, CO
Car Seat Check Event
Wray Community Hospital parking lot
520 Adams Street
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Sept
5th
Trinidad, CO
Trinidad Rodeo Grounds
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
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