Chevrolet launches new Safe and Sure Child Car Seat Installation Workshop Program

• Keeping Kids Safe Starts with Knowing How
• Free Car Seat Installation Workshops at Chevrolet dealerships in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal

Toronto, ON (February 17, 2014) –Children are our most precious cargo, but when parents don’t know proper car seat safety procedures, they put their children’s lives at risk on the roads. That is why Chevrolet is launching the national Safe and Sure Child Car Seat Installation Workshop Program, offering families expert advice on installing car seats into any make or model of vehicle for free.

Families and caregivers can sign up for the free workshops at www.safeandsure.ca. Sessions will begin at Chevrolet dealerships in Vancouver and Toronto in April 2014. Dealerships in Montreal will begin offering the workshops in late spring 2014. No matter what vehicle you drive, or the type of car seat you own, parents and caregivers can register online now for their free expert consultation.

“Safety has always been a priority for Chevrolet,” says Natalie Nankil, Public Relations Manager, Chevrolet. “Knowing that car seat safety has become such a concern, and that parents are looking for know-how and support, Chevrolet decided to help all drivers with the new Safe and Sure program.”

Chevrolet’s car seat installation workshops were piloted in Toronto during 2012 and 2013. The workshops received such overwhelmingly positive response from parents, grandparents, expectant parents and caregivers that Chevrolet is working with Parachute to now offer this program in three major cities.

“Parachute is excited to work with Chevrolet to give families the tools they need to travel safely,” said Louise Logan, President and CEO of Parachute. “Research shows that a properly installed and used car seat will prevent injuries, and could save your child’s life. We encourage you to register for a Chevrolet Safe and Sure Car Seat Installation Workshop, so that you can learn this life-saving skill.”

Did you know?

• Motor vehicle collisions are a leading cause of death by preventable injury for Canadian children between the ages of one and nine (Public Health Agency of Canada).
• A properly used child seat or child restraint system (CRS) reduces the risk of fatal injury by 71 per cent and risk of serious injury by 67 per cent (Canadian Paediatric Society).
• Misuse rates range from 44 per cent to 81 per cent for car seats and 30 per cent to 50 per cent for booster seats (Canadian Paediatric Society).
• Car seats have an expiry date. If it is not listed on the label or the seat itself you can call your manufacturer directly to get the expiry date for your model. Do not use a seat that has been in a crash, or a seat that you don’t know the history of. Even if there is no visible damage, a crash can still compromise the integrity of the car seat.
• Children shouldn’t be rushed out of a booster seat. The booster seat works to position the adult seat-belt over the strong bones of the body. Children should not move into a seat-belt until they are 145 cm (4’9”). Check your provincial laws around booster seats for applicable laws and restrictions for your province.

Parents are not alone when it comes to car seat safety. To register for a Safe and Sure Chevrolet Car Seat Installation Workshop visit www.safeandsure.ca.

Visit the Chevrolet Canada YouTube channel to view the program video.

About Chevrolet in Canada

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.ca on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/chevroletcanada or by following @ChevroletCanada on Twitter.

About Parachute

Parachute is a national, charitable organization dedicated to preventing injuries and saving lives. Parachute officially came into being in July 2012 and unites the former organizations of Safe Communities Canada, Safe Kids Canada, SMARTRISK and ThinkFirst Canada into one leader in injury prevention. Parachute’s injury prevention solutions, knowledge mobilization, public policy, and social awareness efforts are designed to help Canadians reduce their risks of injury while achieving Parachute’s vision of an injury-free Canada where Canadians enjoy long lives lived to the fullest. For more information, visit www.parachutecanada.org.