News Release

Céline Dion delivers life-saving messages to parents of young children in new automobile safety campaign

Washington, D.C. - The National Safety Council today launched a new multilingual series of public service announcements to help keep families safe by emphasizing simple measures for protecting children as vehicle passengers. The nationwide television and radio campaign features Grammy® Award-winning vocalist Céline Dion and will air in English, French and Spanish beginning immediately.

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 cause of injury-related deaths of kids, and more than 700 children are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents each day in the U.S. According to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, nearly eight out of 10 children are still not safely secured in cars.

Through the new public awareness campaign, parents and caregivers will be educated about important, simple, life-saving measures to protect their kids from infants to pre-teens. This includes proper child safety seat usage and fit, securing children in the back seat, the usage of booster seats, and general safety belt usage.

Studies show that 90 percent of parents believe they are properly installing child safety seats, when in actuality 80 percent of them are not. To locate a certified child safety seat inspector in the U.S., parents can visit www.seatcheck.org. The locator provides the most comprehensive list of organizations and other entities that offer seat inspections nationwide.

"Vehicle crashes are the leading risk our kids face. The good news is that we know exactly what will provide best protection. Free, expert assistance is available by calling 866-SEATCHECK, or on the web at www.seatcheck.org," said Chuck Hurley, Vice President of the Transportation Safety Group of the National Safety Council. "We wanted someone of Céline Dion's stature to prompt life-saving action, and we're grateful to have her on board."

"I'm doing these public service announcements because together, we have the opportunity to change these statistics," said Céline Dion. "As a mother, I know first-hand the importance of these messages."

The National Safety Council PSAs were developed in collaboration with NHTSA. According to Dr. Jeffrey Runge, NHTSA Administrator, "The best way to immunize children against the disease of automobile accidents is to buckle them safely into age appropriate child safety seats."

The NSC recommends that:

• Children 12-years-old and under ride only in a rear seat, properly restrained.
• Infants ride in rear-facing safety seats until they are at least 12 months old and weigh at least 20 pounds.
• Children more than 40 pounds must be correctly secured in belt positioning boosters or other appropriate child restraints until the vehicle seat cushion length and adult lap and shoulder belts fit correctly (when they are about 4' 9" tall).

Once the vehicle seat cushion length and safety belts fit children, both lap and shoulder belts must be correctly used. Any safety seat must be installed and used according to the manufacturer's instructions and a vehicle owner's manual. For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The PSAs will be unveiled on March 25, 2004, at the National Safety Council's fifth annual Green Cross for Safety Dinner in Washington, D.C.

The National Safety Council is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, international public service organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health. Members of NSC include more than 45,000 businesses, labor organizations, schools, public agencies, private groups and individuals. Founded in 1913, and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1953, the primary focus of the NSC is preventing injuries that occur in workplaces, homes, communities and motor vehicles. For more information about the NSC, visit the NSC website at www.nsc.org or contact your local NSC chapter.