Sheriff?s department to give away child seats

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Motor vehicle crashes are the most serious health risk for children. Statistically, traffic crashes kill more children under the age of 5 than all childhood diseases and illnesses combined. The Presque Isle County Sheriff?s Department is trying to combat the alarming statistic by making the inside of a vehicle a little more safe with a free child safety car seat giveaway this weekend.

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According to sheriff Bob Paschke, a grant from the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning was used to purchase 75 child seats. The retail value is $50 apiece. The giveaway will take place at the sheriff?s department garage at the courthouse square in Rogers City, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ?That was part of the grant that we had to purchase so many car seats and give them out,? said Paschke. ?We?ll go until they are gone. I?m kind of thinking they are not going be around very long.?

Paschke said the department wants to target low-income families first. The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children?s Fund completed a study on unintentional child injury and its prevention. According to the report (released December 2008), road crashes kill 260,000 children a year and injure about 10 million. They are the leading cause of death among 10-19 year olds and a leading cause of child disability.

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