Jersey City, NJ — Car seat safety is crucial and is an evidenced-based resource for protecting our children during travel. Tragically, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of injury and death among children. In 2021 alone, 711 child passengers ages 12 and younger were killed in such crashes in the United States, and more than 63,000 were injured. Shockingly, 36% of the children who lost their lives were not properly buckled up, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
"According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly half of all child car seats (46 percent) are installed improperly or securing a child in the seat involves error," explains Marissa Fisher, RN, Director of the Trauma Division at Jersey City Medical Center. "Research shows that many parents and caregivers are overconfident in their ability to use car seats correctly, and car seat checks with a certified expert aim to prevent injuries and increase the protection of children in car seats or booster seats in the event of a collision.
“Car Seat, Safety Check events are available for members of our community to receive expert advice from certified professionals that can confirm the right car seat or booster seat and aid families in ensuring that car seats are properly installed in their car.” Iesha Suber, MPH, CHES, Injury Prevention Manager.
To prevent further injuries from car seats, Jersey City Medical Center's Trauma Center is partnering with The Safe Kids Hudson County coalition to ensure the well-being of our youngest passengers. The events will run every Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM beginning April 4, 2024, and will be held at the Medical Center's Emergency Medical Services building located at 415 Montgomery Street in Jersey City.
Car Seat Safety Check events are open to all parents, caregivers, and other community members, and appointments are not necessary.
At each event, Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians will instruct parents and caregivers on proper installation techniques and safety tips, conduct inspections, offer personalized guidance on selecting the right car seat for your child's age and size, and answer questions or concerns related to child passenger safety.
For more information, call 201-915-2905 or go to rwjbh.org/jerseycity
About Jersey City Medical Center
Jersey City Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, is Healing, Enhancing, and Investing in Hudson County. It is a comprehensive, full-service acute and sub-acute care 348-bed teaching hospital. A not-for-profit hospital, the Medical Center is a state-designated Level II Regional Trauma Center with nearly 16,000 admissions and over 80,000 Emergency Department visits annually. The hospital's specialty services include women's health, orthopedics, heart and vascular care, and behavioral health. JCMC is the only full-service heart hospital in Hudson County, offering access to outstanding cardiologists and sophisticated and advanced treatments, such as cardiac surgery and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVR). RWJBarnabas Health and Jersey City Medical Center are in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. JCMC is also a state-designated stroke center, a regional comprehensive cardiac center, a perinatal intensive care center, a regional level 3 neonatal intensive care unit for critically ill newborns, and home to the most advanced robotic-assisted surgical program in Hudson County. JCMC, a provider of Advanced Life Support for Hudson County, runs 911 Medical Call Screening for Hudson County and operates one of the state's busiest EMS systems.
Contact: Stacie Newton
Mobile: 201-424-9678
E-mail: Stacie.Newton@rwjbh.org