Child
Safety Facts
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 Carlene,
born on December 7, 1991 was tragically taken from her beloved family
and friends on September 19, 1998. An inspiration to everybody she
came in contact with, Carlene was and will always be held forever
within our hearts. Her amazing spirit and overwhelming ability to
love is all we have left to live for and hope to diminish tragedies
like this that happen everyday. The following statistics and facts were obtained from the child passenger safety program book distributed by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Administration). |
--The number of children who die and are injured each year in crashes is unacceptable and in most instances preventable. In 1998 14,471 Americans died in traffic crashes and over 3 million were injured. If seatbelts and child restraint systems were properly used, many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented.
--Crashes are not accidents. NHTSA and other prevention specialists eliminate the use of the word accident from their vocabulary. An accident is something that is not within the power of a human being to stop. It is uncontrollable. Most of these injuries can be controlled by a single human beings actions.
--Motor vehicle crashes account for nearly 42% of unintentional childhood related injury and deaths.
--An average of 7 U.S. children ages 0-14 years old were killed and 866 were injured each day in motor vehicle crashes during 1998.
--In 1998 1,772 children ages 0-14 died as vehicle occupants. *61% of these were unrestrained.
--There are 51% of children ages 0-5 that are unrestrained and the misuse rate is 8 out of 10..
--Local checkups report misuse rates over 90%.
--Child restraints are 71% effective in reducing deaths for infants in passenger cars.
--In 1998 child fatalities decreased from 12% from 1996 (which is still far too many).
--Child restraints are 54% effective in reducing toddler deaths and 69% reduce the need for hospitalization.
--Many reasons for incorrect installations of child restraint devices are caused by lack of information, lack of instruction and failure to read instructions.
We take for granted everyday activities in our life. We are always so sure that tragedy is escapable or would never hit so close to home. There are ways we as parents can protect our children from unnecessary injury. It takes only a few minutes to secure a seat belt or make sure they are correctly placed in their car seats each and every time we place them in a vehicle. There should never be any chances we take when it comes to our kids. It is imperative that parents be made aware of the correct and safest way of transporting our most precious valuables.
It came to me one night as I was remembering and missing my little angel. People need to be made aware of how real this problem is. Reality is a cruel state of mind but not being educated or being neglectful is the worst crime imaginable.
We will take Carlene's spirit around with us forever and promote our children's well-being. *This* would be Carlene's wish and this is Carlene's Quest.