Month: April 2022

Blog: Community Safety Stories

Safe Kids Worldwide Partner Share: Automated Vehicles Report & Recommendations

by Brenda Plascencia

Safe Kids Worldwide convened a Blue Ribbon Panel (BRP) of nationally recognized child safety advocates and transportation experts in 2018 to discuss the unique safety considerations of children in automated vehicles.

The Consortium on Protecting Children in Automated Vehicles was convened to ensure that child safety needs are actively reflected in new vehicle designs, regulations, laws, and educational messaging. They were encouraged by the expansion of advanced driver assistance technologies and automated drive features and their potential to prevent or mitigate car crashes caused by human error. Their priority was to ensure that stakeholders consider the safety needs of families as these technologies continue to evolve.

The Consortium released a report “The BRP Children in Automated Vehicles Recommendation Report” (October 2018) serves as a call to action for automated vehicle developers to evaluate and ensure their products are created with the protection of child passengers in mind. In their 2018 press release, the BRP asked the automated vehicle industry to: 

  • Support child-focused regulations,
  • Test automated vehicles in ways that consider child passengers,
  • Design vehicles that are family-friendly,
  • Conduct research on the appropriate level of supervision in automated vehicles, and
  • Ensure all marketing and advertising shows children riding in automated vehicles according to best practices.

The BRP also recommended convening a multi-year consortium to monitor research and progress, and to generate ongoing policy statements and advocacy guidance that reflect an evolving field. To continue the work of the BRP, the Children in Automated Vehicles Consortium was subsequently formed to monitor developments in the AV field and implement the BRP recommendations. The Consortium was organized into two broad working groups:

  • Policy/Legislation and Enforcement Working Group
  • Public Information and Education Working Group

 For full details of the Blue Ribbon Panel’s work, the Consortium’s recommendations and to learn more on why this work is so important, please visit https://www.safekids.org/AVs.

Blog: Community Safety Stories

Window Safety & You

by Brenda Plascencia

Windows rank as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home. Falls from windows are more common than people might think. According to a report by Safe Kids Worldwide, an average of eight children ages 5 and younger die and more than 3,300 are injured each year from falling out of windows. Being initiative-taking about window safety is a crucial step to keep yourself and children safe.

The Window Safety Task Force offers several tips to help protect children from accidental window falls:

  • When young children are around, keep windows closed and locked.
  • When opening a window for ventilation, use those located out of a child’s reach. 
  • Supervise children to keep child’s play away from windows, balconies, or patio doors. 
  • Avoid placing furniture near windows to prevent young children from climbing and gaining access to an open window.
  • Do not allow children to jump on beds or other furniture to help reduce potential falls.
  • Do not rely on insect screens to prevent a window fall. Insect screens are designed to keep bugs out, not to keep children in the home.
  • Install ASTM F2090 compliant devices designed to limit how far a window will open or window guards (with quick-release mechanisms in case of fire or another emergency) to help prevent a fall. 
  • Teach your child how to safely use a window to escape during an emergency, such as a fire.

One additional item to keep in mind is that windows can be lifesaving in the event of a fire or other home emergency. Be sure to assess your windows monthly to ensure that they are working in a safe manner and open easily. If they are not working, they should be fixed properly and/or windows should be replaced. Safety is important as is being initiative-taking rather than reactive. Taking the time monthly to ensure safety is a simple and uncomplicated way to prevent injuries.