FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 16, 2000) –
Lee County Emergency
Medical Services (EMS) is placing “Buckle Up Florida” decals on all its
ambulances as part of an awareness campaign to educate motorists about the
importance of using safety belts and child passenger safety seats.
Buckle Up Florida is a
statewide initiative to increase safety belt use in Florida from the current 59
percent to 85 percent. Lee County is one of the top 10 counties
in the state for seatbelt noncompliance. Traffic-related injuries are
the leading cause of death for children and young adults ages six to 27.
“Needless deaths and injuries occur every day because of motorists
not using, or improperly using, very simple devices such as seatbelts and child
safety seats,” says Captain Dave Wheaton, Public Information, Education and
Relations (PIER) Specialist for Lee County EMS.
Buckle Up Florida decals will
be placed on the sides of each of EMS’s 21 ambulances.
“We have a duty to educate
the public in injury prevention and will use whatever means possible to
accomplish that goal,” says Wheaton.
“Using EMS ambulances as ‘moving billboards’ is one solution. EMS ambulances are very conspicuous and are
on our roads 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The decals will be placed on the sides of each unit and will
remain for an unlimited time because the public must be constantly reminded of
this very important issue.”
Indian River EMS and Lee
County EMS are the first in Florida to place “Buckle Up Florida” decals on
their ambulances.
EMS employees also
participate in an education program where each EMS ambulance and supervisor
vehicle has a stock of green colored “BUCKLE UP...IT’S THE LAW!” cards. During their routine duties, if paramedics
note an improperly restrained child in a vehicle, they will note the vehicle
tag number on the card and upon returning to their station call the “Buckle Up”
Hotline at 1‑800‑699‑SAFE to report the incident. The hotline personnel will then send an
information packet to the registered owner of the vehicle.
For more information on the
Buckle Up Florida program visit its web site at www.buckleupflorida.com or for
information about car safety visit the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.