Packard Children’s Hospital and California Highway Patrol Team Up for Child Safety

Free car seat safety checks made possible with support from Kohl’s department stores

For release: September 16, 2010

Palo Alto, Calif. – Beginning on Tuesday, September 21, Kohl’s department stores will host a series of three car seat safety events at store locations in Redwood City, Milpitas, and Gilroy. Officers from the California Highway Patrol and certified technicians from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford will inspect car seats and provide free training for parents on how to install a car seat properly.

The events are an outreach effort of the Kohl’s Child Safety and Outreach Program at Packard Children’s Hospital, an ongoing partnership to reduce harm to Bay Area children. These trainings, offered in English and Spanish, are designed to educate parents and caregivers on how to install and use the appropriate child safety seat in a vehicle. The complete events schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, September 21
Redwood City Kohl’s, 250 Walnut Street
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 22
Gilroy Kohl’s, 6765 Camino Arroyo Drive
3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 23
Milpitas Kohl’s, 1150 Great Mall Drive
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The event on September 21 will be highlighted by a presentation from Kohl’s, where they will present Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford with a check for this year’s grant, totaling $143,785.  Since 2005, Kohl’s has donated over $550,000 to Packard Children’s to help promote the safety and health of local children. The commitment is made possible thanks to the Kohl’s Cares® program, which raises funds through the sale of seasonal gift items. Net profits from sales of these items at stores throughout Silicon Valley are directed to Packard Children’s Hospital. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of injury-related death among children in the United States. Child safety seats and safety belts, when installed and used correctly, can prevent injuries and save lives. Yet experts estimate that as many as four out of five car seats are still installed incorrectly.

“Improving car seat installation is an important initiative in our efforts to reduce motor vehicle related injuries and save the lives of Bay Area children,” states Officer Art Montiel, California Highway Patrol Public Information Officer. “We are pleased to collaborate with the Kohl’s Child Safety and Outreach Program at Packard Children’s Hospital on their community training and education efforts.” The Kohl’s Child Safety and Outreach Program at Packard Children’s Hospital plays a key role in reducing harm to Bay Area children. Packard’s on-site car safety service is staffed by certified technicians, bilingual in English and Spanish, who show parents how to properly install car seats and fasten the straps correctly around a child, and discuss other passenger safety issues such as using cargo nets to safely secure loose items in vans and SUVs. Staff members also provide car, bike, and pedestrian safety education at health fairs and community events across the South Bay and Peninsula.

Appointments for a car seat fitting—at an upcoming event or at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford by calling (650) 736-2981.

Authors

Jose Gordon
(650) 497-8489
jose.gordon@lpfch.org

About the California Highway Patrol

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) was established in 1929. Since then, the CHP has built a history of service and tradition that has made it one of the leading law enforcement agencies in the world. The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security to the people of California. One of our goals is to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage resulting from traffic collisions through enforcement, education, and engineering. For more information, and to find the laws behind the use of your children seats, visit www.chp.ca.gov or stop by a CHP office to let us show you how to properly buckle your kids (and their seats).