Contact:
Jennifer Rampersad
Communications
(718) 281-8529
Bayside, NY - May 28, 2008 - Research shows that four out of five car seats are installed incorrectly. A properly installed car seat can mean the difference between life and death in the case of a crash, and it can also dramatically reduce the risk of injury for babies and toddlers. St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children is taking the initiative to help families become more aware of the significance of car seat safety and as part of its ongoing community outreach program, St. Mary's will be holding a car seat safety program during the months of April -August between the hours of 9 am and 12 pm at its Bayside campus.
The program will offer a variety of dates to accommodate the needs and schedules of working families and a St. Mary's certified child passenger safety technician will be doing a free installation of car seats. The program successfully kicked off with its first session on Friday, April 4th and addressed the emerging needs of properly installing car seats and the difference it can mean in possibly saving a child's life.
The Healthcare received a phenomenal amount of support and responses following the St. Mary's Community Safety Day held on Saturday, May 10, 2008. During this informative session, well attended by community families, patient families and media outlets, bicycle helmets were available for children between the ages of 1 and 14 and technicians showed parents and caregivers how to fit the helmet to their child's head. Head injuries are the leading cause of death in 80 percent of bicycle crashes and helmets cut the risk of injury by 75 percent. New York State law requires children under the age of 14 to wear an appropriate helmet when riding their bikes.
The team also checked car seats for typically developing children and assisted parents of children with special healthcare needs in determining the safest way to transport their child. St. Mary's treats nearly 4,000 children every day within the five boroughs of New York City and dedicates a large portion of its efforts to informing families about critical issues affecting children. St. Mary's has established a leadership role in seeking out and promoting these issues while continuing to provide quality care.
Appointments are necessary for the free car seat checks as there are a number of dates available. For more information and to schedule your free car seat installation, you may contact Mark Hoffacker, St. Mary's Advocacy Manager, at 718 281-8665 or at 718-281-8571.
Don't allow tragedy to strike before it's too late. Sign up now and get your car seat checked.
Hurry now and make your next appointments as dates are filling quickly. The last session of the program will be held on August 8th. New dates will be scheduled for Fall 2008.
St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children
St. Mary's is one of the nation's premier providers of healthcare for children with special needs and life-limiting conditions. St. Mary's provides intensive rehabilitative and specialized medical care to nearly 4,000 children each day in the New York Metropolitan region and beyond through its family-centered inpatient, home care, and community programs. For more information, visit www.stmaryskids.org.
