Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 host Kids Safety Event to offer free ID cards and safety seat inspections
In an effort to keep children safe this summer, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 will host a free Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event at DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville next week. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are invited to stop by to create free kids’ ID cards and get help with child safety seat inspections.
“Nearly 90 percent of the child safety seats inspected by the Illinois State Police are improperly installed – up from 80 percent last year,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “K.I.S.S. events offer free safety seat checks and ID cards to help keep children safe and provide peace of mind for parents, grandparents, and caregivers when they’re on the road.”
K.I.S.S. is 10AM-2PM Sat., Aug. 30
The free K.I.S.S. event will be held from 10AM to 2PM on Sat., Aug. 30, at DuPage Children’s Museum located at 301 N. Washington St. in Naperville.
A touch-a-truck display will allow kids to climb aboard and get behind the wheel of a 26-ton Illinois Tollway snowplow or a Highway Emergency Lane Patrol (H.E.L.P.) truck. Participants who are not currently members of the Museum will be given a coupon for a free adult admission with a paid child admission for the day.
“Child safety continues to be one of the most important issues we can address today. Fortunately, there are plenty of helpful resources to help teach parents and caregivers about various safety measures they can take in order to help protect their children,” said Sarah Orleans, President and CEO, DuPage Children’s Museum. “We’re excited to host the Illinois Tollway and Police District 15 to help educate the community about keeping children safe.”
Free ID Cards for kids
K.I.S.S. events also offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to have ID cards created for children age 3 and older. Specially trained professionals will take kids’ photographs and fingerprints and gather vital information to include on three personal ID cards – one for home and two for a wallet or purse. This information will not be stored by police, but rather, used by parents and others in the event of an emergency.
More than 2,100 children – almost two children per minute – are reported missing every day in the United States. It is estimated that 34 percent of American parents wouldn’t be able to accurately describe their child to law enforcement, including details of exact height and weight, as well as their child’s eye color. Many lost children can be located if parents immediately provide police with an accurate description of the child.
Safety seat inspections, too
K.I.S.S. events also provide certified child passenger safety technicians to inspect and install child safety seats and help drivers stay up-to-date with the latest safety seat information and educational materials.
“Securing proper safety restraints for children is the law and no child should travel in a vehicle without being properly restrained at all times,” said District 15 Commander Patrick Kimes. “The certified safety seat technicians at K.I.S.S. events make the adjustments needed to keep all kids safe at every stage of their development.”
Nationally, car crashes are the number one killer of children ages 1 through 12, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants younger than 1 year old and by 54 percent for toddlers 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars, according to the NHTSA.
K.I.S.S. events offer a convenient way for drivers to make sure they comply with Illinois law, which requires that whenever a person is transporting a child under age 8, the person is responsible for properly securing the child in an appropriate child restraint system.
In 2013, the Tollway and District 15 successfully teamed up to host 10 K.I.S.S. events throughout the region. Last year, certified child passenger safety technicians checked a total of 436 child safety seats and issued nearly 1,200 kids ID cards.
To participate, parents, grandparents, and caregivers should bring child safety seats, children, and the vehicle in which the child safety seats will be installed. Information on recalls and recall detection, correct positioning, correct sizing to protect the child most effectively, plus additional safety information and resources will be offered at these events.
FYI:About DuPage Children’s Museum / DuPage Children’s Museum is more than a Museum…we’re a force for early learning! Via interactive exhibits and programs that make learning fun for children and adults playing together, DuPage Children’s Museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children. The Museum is located at 301 N. Washington Street in Naperville, Illinois, a quick walk from the Naperville Metra train station. Parking is free and the building is wheelchair accessible. For information about hours, Museum admission, and membership packages, visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call (630) 637-8000.
FYI: About the Illinois Tollway / The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80). For more information, visit www.illinoistollway.com.
Submitted by DuPage Children’s Museum in cooperation with Trooper Dwayne McClaine, Illinois State Police District 15; and Jon Bigness, Illinois Tollway.
