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Safe Kids Buckle Up
The ProblemMotor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14. In 2009, 1,314 children ages 14 and under died and an estimated 179,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes. Additionally, 46 percent of kids 14 and under who died in crashes were completely unrestrained. What We DoBeginning in 1997, General Motors and the GM Foundation have served as Safe Kids Buckle Up's exclusive funding source. They helped build the program into a multifaceted national initiative, bringing motor vehicle safety messages to children and families through community and dealer partnerships. To date, more than 22 million people have been exposed to Safe Kids Buckle Up events and community outreach efforts. Certified child passenger safety technicians working through Safe Kids coalitions have examined over 1.4 million child safety seats at over 75,000 events. The program has donated over 520,000 seats to families in need. With support from the GM Foundation, Safe Kids Buckle Up programs are conducted by Safe Kids Worldwide’s 600 local coalitions and chapters. How Safe Kids WorksSafe Kids Buckle Up offers parents and caregivers hands-on instruction about safety inside the car (including information on car seats, booster seats and seat belts) as well as around the car (featuring the Spot the Tot program). It presents interactive educational programs for children ages 14 and under. Our two newest programs, Safest Generation for kids 11 and 12 and Countdown2Drive for kids 13 and 14 address the needs of older children and their families. Safe Kids Buckle Up provides educational materials, grants and support to local Safe Kids coalitions who in turn work with community volunteers that include nationally certified child passenger safety technicians, transportation safety experts, public officials, police officers, nurses, public health experts and General Motors dealerships. Local programs address local problems using our network of motivated, well trained advocates. Program Components
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