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WHEREAS, traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from one (1) to fourteen (14) years old; and
WHEREAS, properly installed child safety seats are 71% effective for reducing fatalities in infants, 54% effective for reducing fatalities in toddlers and reduce the need for hospitalization by 69%; and
WHEREAS, according to the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, all children from birth to age four (4) must be secured in an approved child safety seat anywhere in the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, according to the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, effective on February 21, 2003, all children from age four (4) to age eight (8) must be secured in a seat belt system and an approved booster seat anywhere in the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, according to the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, effective on February 21, 2003, all children from age eight (8) to age eighteen (18) must be secured in a seat belt system anywhere in the vehicle; and
WHEREAS, with so many different combinations of child safety seats, safety belt systems and vehicles on the road today, it is very difficult to properly install child safety seats; and
WHEREAS, Child Safety Seat Inspections show that 94% of children riding in child safety seats are improperly restrained; and
WHEREAS, parents should have their child safety seats inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician; and
WHEREAS, the Team Educators for CHild Safety (TECHS) comprised of the following members: City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Health Department, Baldwin Borough Police Department, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University Police Department, Heritage Health Foundation, Mercy Hospital, Moon Township Police Department, Pennsylvania American Academy of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania SIDS Alliance, Ross/West View EMSA, State Farm Insurance Company, UPMC Pre-hospital Care, West Penn AAA and West Penn Hospital are sponsoring a Pre-Valentine's Day Child Safety Seat Inspection on Tuesday, February 10th to promote the 2004 Pennsylvania Statewide Theme "I Buckle Up for Me and My Child" during National Child Passenger Safety Week.
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby proclaim the week of February 8-14, 2004, as CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK And call upon all the residents to join with us in supporting the efforts and activities of the Team Educators for Child Safety (TECHS) to prevent childhood injury and death due to motor vehicle crashes.