News Release                   For Immediate Release

August 16, 2005

New Ontario Booster Seat Law Announced

Every year in Canada more than 35 Canadian children between the ages of 4 to 9 are killed in car crashes and another 360 are seriously injured.  Many of these deaths and severe injuries could be prevented by the use of booster seats.  Seatbelts are designed specifically to protect adult passengers.  Booster seats, however, raise a child up so that the adult seatbelt works better by fitting correctly over the child’s body: booster seats reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 75%.

As of September 1, 2005, all young passengers must be properly secured in child car seats or booster seats. Booster seats are mandatory for children:

• weighing 18 kg to 36 kg (40 lb. to 80 lb.) or
• with a standing height of less than 145 cm (4 ft. 9 in.) or
• maximum age of eight years old.

All drivers transporting children in vehicles who are not properly restrained in an appropriate child / booster seat will be fined $110.00 and receive 2 demerit points.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to get more information about how to properly install child car seats or booster seats by attending a child care seat inspection clinic in their area or by contacting Public Health at 376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visiting Public Health’s car seat website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca; click Family Health’, then ‘Car seats’.

Attachment:

Car Seat Clinic Schedule 2005

For more information:

Sarah Stewart

Family Health, Program Manager

Grey Bruce Health Unit

376-9420 ext. 426

Meghan Wilkie

Public Health Nurse, Family Health

Grey Bruce Health Unit

376-9420 ext. 438

Louise Schenk

Public Health Nurse, Family Health

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920 ext. 241