Itasca, IL – The National Safety Council is working to ensure the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who keep us safe also are safe when they get behind the wheel in their personal vehicles.
NSC is taking the Check To Protect vehicle recall awareness campaign to Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base May 21-22 to speak to military members about the importance of checking for open safety recalls and scheduling free repairs if necessary. As part of this outreach, a team of workers will canvass parking lots on the base and leave information with vehicles that are found to have unrepaired recalls.
More than one in four vehicles on the road today has an open safety recall, many of which pose serious risks to drivers and passengers. All vehicle owners, including military members, can learn their recall status by visiting CheckToProtect.org and entering their vehicle identification number (VIN).
NSC also is scheduled to visit Blount Island Marine Corps Base in July and is developing plans to visit additional military installations. This free service is available to all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
“We cannot thank our military forces enough for the sacrifices they make to protect us on a daily basis,” said Kelly Nantel, NSC vice president of communications and advocacy. “One small way that we can show our gratitude is to make sure military members have the necessary information about their vehicle’s recall status in order to keep themselves and their families safe. We encourage everyone to Check To Protect.”
There are more than 53 million open safety recalls, including more than 37 million vehicles with airbag recalls. Canvassers at Camp Pendleton will check for all recalls with a keen eye toward finding faulty airbags.
“We want to protect the men and women of our Armed Forces by making sure they are aware and know what to do when they or their loved ones are at risk,” said Heidi King, deputy administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Checking for open safety recalls will help ensure our members of the military and their families won’t confront potentially life-threatening issues in their personal cars, trucks and SUVs. Everyone should pay attention and act if they get a recall notice – it could save your life or the life of someone you love.”
The visit to Camp Pendleton coincides with the base’s 101 Critical Days of Summer Safety Stand-Down. Military bases across the country use the 101-day period, beginning with Memorial Day weekend and ending with Labor Day weekend, to emphasize the importance of safety in all activities.
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.
