The GCADA raised over $21,000 at this year’s Rev It UP!! Sneak Peak Preview Party at the Enquirer Media/Cars.com Cincinnati Auto Expo. (l-r) GCADA President Bob Huser, Fairfield Volkswagen; Richard Falcone, MD, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital; and Rod Baker, Automotive Advertising Manager, Enquirer Media / Cars.com
Motor vehicles have never been better built or safer for occupants; however, did you know motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death among children, teens, and young adults? Putting your child in a safety seat lowers their risk of injury by over 70 percent and death by 28 percent. In the spirit of safe travel, members of the Greater Cincinnati Automobile Dealers Association have partnered with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and are working together to prevent motor vehicle related injuries and death among children of all ages.
The Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s Child Passenger Safety Program, administered by the Trauma Services Department, provides over 700 car seats and booster seats annually to families in need, and approximately 120 custom car seats for children with special needs. Since beginning our partnership with Cincinnati Children’s we have raised over $120,000 to assist CCHMC in helping these families.
Our partnership is not just about raising money, but also helping to educate parents, grandparents and caregivers who may not know the facts on child passenger safety. Many children may not be in a proper safety seat, as the rate of car seat misuse is 80-95 percent. As dealers we have a unique opportunity to reach the traveling public and our goal is to assist Cincinnati Children’s in getting the facts out to consumers. Each of our dealers has displayed in a prominent area of the dealership, an eye catching cardboard cutout display of a life-sized child. This display features a measuring tape, and an important message that children under 4’9”, and under the age of eight, need to be in a booster seat.
Each year the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) designates the month of September as Child Passenger Safety Month and promotes its “Boost For Safety” program nationwide. “Child Passenger Safety month brings public attention to the importance of properly securing all children in appropriate child safety seats, booster seats, or seat belts – on every trip, every time.” The GCADA has raised funds annually through our Rev It Up!! Sneak Peek Preview Party at the Enquirer Media / Cars.com Cincinnati Auto Expo but in 2013, we have expanded our partnership with CCHMC as a year-round program.
Together with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, we can help prevent injuries from occurring, and save a child’s life.
CLICK HERE for more information regarding child passenger safety laws, best practices, and the locations of the 43 fitting stations located in the Greater Cincinnati area.
