WHO: Therese Quattrociocchi-Longe, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation
Howard Hughey, Michigan Director of Public Affairs, AAA-The Auto Club Group
Cindy Al-Atabi, Director, Field Operations, AAA-The Auto Club Group
Kay LaDuke, Field Manager, AAA Detroit Downtown/New Center Branch
-40 Certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) technicians
-Southeast parents/guardians/caregivers with child passengers
WHAT: As part of National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sep 15-21), AAA is teaming up with Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation and partners to host Seat Check Saturday. This is part of a national campaign encouraging parents and caregivers to make sure children are riding in a properly-installed car seat. Adults with child passengers will be offered free seat checks by a certified technician. The child must be present at the seat check. The event is open to the public.
The event kicks off with a 10AM check presentation from AAA to Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation. This donation is part of AAA’s long-standing support of traffic safety and a seven-year tradition of supporting local efforts to fund child passenger safety programs as part of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan-DMC-Kohl’s Injury Prevention Program.
WHEN: Saturday, September 14th – 10am-12 noon
WHERE: AAA – The Auto Club Group Headquarters
1 Auto Club Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126
In the South Parking Lot Area
WHY: AAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend all infants and toddlers ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are two years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car seat’s manufacturer.
Older children may also be at risk of injury if riding in the front seat before they are ready. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that most parents are confident that they have correctly installed their child’s car seat, but in most cases (59%) the seat has not been installed correctly. According to NHTSA, in 2017, among children under 5, car seats saved an estimated 312 lives. Children under the age of 13 should ride in the back seat because they are typically not large enough to safely ride in the front seat and can be seriously injured by front passenger air bags in the event of a crash.
AAA encourages adults to set a good example for children by buckling up every trip regardless of seat location. For more information on car seat safety, visit these websites:
About the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation:
The Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, an initiative of The Children’s Foundation, seeks to make a significant, lasting and positive impact on children’s health through three primary areas: groundbreaking pediatric medical research, innovative community benefit programs and advanced medical education at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Funding provided supports vital projects, programs and research that advance the health and wellness of children and families. To learn more, visit www.chmfoundation.org/support.
About the Auto Club Group
AAA in Michigan celebrated its 100th Anniversary - A Century of Service in 2016 and has over 1.4 million members across the state. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG). Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
The Auto Club Group (ACG) is the second largest AAA club in North America. ACG and its affiliates provide membership, insurance, financial services and travel offerings to over 9.9 million members across eleven states and two U.S. territories including Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; most of Illinois and Minnesota; and a portion of Indiana. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation with more than 59 million members in the United States and Canada and whose mission includes protecting and advancing freedom of mobility and improving traffic safety. Motorists can map a route, identify gas prices, find discounts, book a hotel, and access AAA roadside assistance with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. Learn more at AAA.com/mobile. Visit AAA on the Internet at AAA.com.