On April 29, 2011, at the William Halley Elementary School in Fairfax Station, VA, Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman, together with safety experts from Safe Kids Worldwide, showed more than 90 second graders how to stay safe in and around automobiles. The students participated in demonstrations both in the classroom and in the parking lot. The event was part of the NTSB’s ongoing initiative to educate children and caregivers on child safety.

Chairman Hersman discussed booster seat use with the children, noting that most children need to continue using booster seats until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall. She also talked about wearing personal floatation devices while boating and helmets when biking and skating.  During the Spot-the-Tot demonstration, students simulated playing in a driveway by sitting on a carpet that extended up to 18 feet behind the vehicle. A teacher behind the wheel reported that, despite knowing children were behind, the car, she couldn’t see a single one.  

Every week in the United States at least 50 children are backed over by a car. Last year, nearly 50 children died from hypothermia after being left in a hot car – the greatest number since the statistics started being tracked.  You can learn more about how to keep children safe in and around cards at: www.usa.safekids.org.