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With winter and snowy weather fast approaching, the Cass County Safe Kids alliance wants all drivers who transport children to pay special attention to the following safety measures:

• Make sure that your vehicle is maintained and in proper working order. If you are transporting children then you are transporting precious cargo so having your car (especially brakes, tires, wiper blades and battery) regularly inspected and in good working order should be a priority.

• Children must be transported in a proper car seat:

1.     Children younger than age 4 must ride in a car seat in the rear seat if the vehicle has a rear seat. If all available rear seats are occupied by children under 4, or there is no rear seat, then a child under 4 may ride in a car seat in the front seat.
2.     A child in a rear-facing car seat may only ride in the front seat if the airbag is turned off.
3.     Children must be properly buckled in a car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4-feet-9-inches tall. Children must ride in a seat until they reach the age requirement or the height requirement, whichever comes first.
4.     Parents needing help purchasing a child passenger car seat can contact any law enforcement agency in Cass County for assistance in obtaining and being trained in the proper use of the car seat.

The following is a list of items that it is recommended to have in your vehicle when traveling in wintery weather:

1.     At least two blankets or a sleeping bag
2.     Flashlight or battery-powered lantern and extra batteries
3.     Booster (jumper) cables
4.     Emergency flares
5.     Extra clothing, particularly boots, hats and mittens
6.     Bottled water or juice and nonperishable high-energy foods (granola bars, raisins, nuts, peanut butter or cheese crackers)
7.     First-aid kit and necessary medications
8.     A cell phone and car charger

Finally, the best advice in extreme weather is to stay home, safe and warm and off the roadway. Pay attention to the forecast and if it appears that the weather is going to be hazardous then do not take a chance on driving. If you are transporting a child it is their safety as well as yours that you may be risking.

Another resource for information on winter driving can be found at : http://www.osha.gov/Publications/SafeDriving.pdf

Cass County Safe Kids http://michigansafekids.org/