MARADMINS : 026/03
R 211700Z JAN 03
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(n)
TO ML MARADMIN(n)
MARADMIN
BT
UNCLAS
MARADMIN 026/03
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC SD//
SUBJ/CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK//
REF/A/MSG/CMC MARADMIN/-/216/00//
POC/HENRY C. DEWEY III/COLONEL/DIR SAFETY DIVISION/CMC(SD)
/TEL:DSN 224-1202/TEL:COMM (703) 614-1202//
RMKS/1. THE WEEK OF 9-15 FEB 03 HAS BEEN DESIGNATED CHILD
PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK. THIS PRESENTS A READYMADE OPPORTUNITY
TO INCLUDE MARINES' FAMILIES IN ACTIVITIES DIRECTED TOWARD
MARKETING SAFETY IN KEEPING WITH THE USMC 2D QUARTER THEME.
2. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA)
HAS IDENTIFIED "4 STEPS FOR KIDS": (A) REAR-FACING INFANT
SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT FROM BIRTH TO AT LEAST ONE YEAR OLD
AND AT LEAST 20 POUNDS; (B) FORWARD-FACING TODDLER SEATS IN
THE BACK SEAT FROM AGE ONE TO ABOUT AGE FOUR AND 20 TO 40
POUNDS; (C) BOOSTER SEATS IN THE BACK SEAT FROM ABOUT AGE FOUR
AND 40 POUNDS TO AT LEAST EIGHT UNLESS 4'9"; (D) SAFETY BELTS
AT AGE EIGHT OR OLDER OR TALLER THAN 4'9". ALL CHILDREN 12
AND UNDER SHOULD RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT.
3. A SPECIAL NHTSA WEBSITE, WWW.BUCKLEUPAMERICA.ORG
WWW.BUCKLEUPAMERICA.ORG>, OUTLINES A VARIETY OF POSSIBLE
ACTIVITIES FOR THE WEEK AS WELL AS A SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE.
A NUMBER OF SUGGESTED ACTIONS FOCUS ON THIS YEAR'S EMPHASIS
TARGETS: PROMOTING BOOSTER SEATS AND PROVIDING TRAINING FOR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS ON HOW TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN SAFELY.
4. CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSPECTION EVENTS ARE ALWAYS BENEFICIAL.
MANY BASES HAVE TRAINED SAFETY SEAT INSPECTORS. BASES LACKING
THAT RESOURCE SHOULD LOCATE AND PUBLICIZE CHILD SAFETY SEAT
INSPECTIONS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. INFORMATION ON THE
INSPECTIONS COULD BE PROVIDED TO DRIVERS DURING SEAT BELT
CHECKS OR OTHER TRAFFIC STOPS.
5. AN ACTION-FILLED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY WEEK CAN SERVE
AS A POWERFUL KICKOFF FOR THE USMC EFFORT OF MARKETING TOTAL
FAMILY SAFETY.
6. SEMPER FIDELIS, W. L. NYLAND, GENERAL, U. S. MARINE
CORPS, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//