Sesame Street characters bring buckle-up message to LV parents

Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000 | 10:14 a.m.

The Children's Television Workshop, the National Safety Council and Ford Motor Co. are bringing the multicity safety tour "Buckle Up with Sesame Street" to the Meadows mall Friday through Sunday.

The live song and dance program teaching safe seating techniques also is premiering in Las Vegas until 7 p.m. today at Friendly Ford, 660 N. Decatur Blvd.

Parents will have the opportunity to have their child safety seats checked by certified professionals at the dealership. The seat will be checked for proper installation in the vehicle, correct size and fit for the child and possible safety recalls. Children will also be able to visit with Sesame Street characters.

Parents are encouraged to also bring their children who weigh 90 pounds or less who are not currently using child safety seats.

Certified child safety seat professionals will be provided by the National Safety Council, a nonprofit group.

The group notes that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children 5-15 years old, and 80 children have been killed by an inflating air bag while riding in the front seat of a vehicle. Almost all were improperly restrained.

Child safety seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 69 percent for infants and by 47 percent for toddlers, the group said, and maintains that increasing safety belt usage and having children properly restrained in the back seat is the most effective way to save lives.

"Buckle Up With Sesame Street" emphasizes these key safety messages:

archive