September 17-23, 2023: Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

WHEREAS, 113 children age 14 and under were killed in car crashes in Michigan during 2017-2021; and,

WHEREAS, 818 children age 14 and under were hospitalized and 15,870 were treated in an Emergency Department in Michigan during 2017-2021 due to injuries from a car crash; and,

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nationally the lives of 325 children under the age of 5 were saved by a car seat in 2017 and 42% of children who died in traffic crashes nationally in 2020 were unrestrained; and,

WHEREAS, child restraint systems are often used incorrectly. One Michigan study found that 78.7% of child restraint devices were misused in a way that could be expected to increase a child’s risk of injury during a crash; and,

WHEREAS, it is recommended that children ride in a rear-facing seat from birth to age 2, or when they reach the upper weight or height limit for that seat; and,

WHEREAS, when children outgrow their rear-facing seat, they should be buckled in a forward-facing car seat until at least age 5 or when they reach the upper weight or height limit of that seat; when children outgrow their forward-facing seat, they should be buckled in a booster seat until seat belts fit properly; the recommended height for proper seat belt fit is 57 inches tall; and,

WHEREAS, children may use a seat belt once they reach 57 inches tall and the seat belt fits them properly; when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs (not the stomach) and the shoulder belt lays across the chest (not the neck); and,

WHEREAS, it is important to be aware that car seats should not be used past their expiration date, that there are unsafe counterfeit seats being sold, and used car seats may be unsafe to reuse; and,

WHEREAS, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has information at NHTSA.gov to help guide families on the correct type of car seat or booster seat to help children travel safely as passengers and there are more than 800 Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in the State of Michigan who can help families make sure that their children are traveling as safety as possible in vehicles; and,

WHEREAS, people can connect to a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician by using this search tool: http://bit.ly/3CnKnLe; and,

WHEREAS, concerted efforts are being made through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of Highway Safety Planning and community partners to increase public awareness about the importance of child passenger safety;

NOW, THEREFORE I, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan do hereby proclaim the week of September 17-23, 2023 as Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week in Michigan.