| What are the chances that your child will be | | | | closest relative. The problem with a sticker is that |
| injured or killed in a vehicle accident? According to | | | | over time it will lose its adhesive quality, |
| the National Highway Traffic Safety | | | | particularly in Southern climates where heat inside |
| Administration, roughly 2.9 million people are | | | | a car can be a factor, and fall off the car seat. |
| injured each year in auto accidents, and of that | | | | Also, a big drawback to stickers is the limited |
| number, 63,000 were children age 4 or under. | | | | amount of space they offer for such critical |
| This does not seem like a high percentage unless | | | | information regarding medical conditions allergies, |
| the child is yours. | | | | medicine, or emergency and doctor contacts. |
| Consider, however, the other people that you will | | | | They are, however, better than no information at |
| trust your child to in a vehicle. It might be your | | | | all. |
| car pool, teenage driver, babysitter, or even an | | | | One of the best systems, called WHALE (What |
| elderly relative? While they may be safe drivers, | | | | We Have Is A Little Emergency), is endorsed by |
| think about the following questions. | | | | the National Highway Transportation |
| What happens if they (or you) are in an accident | | | | Administration. This system incorporates window |
| and rendered unconscious? | | | | decals, car seat decals, and a large information |
| What information about your child will be available | | | | form to write down information on your child that |
| to First Responders when they arrive at the | | | | is then inserted into a plastic sleeve and attached |
| scene? | | | | to the seat. If the child is ever in an accident, the |
| Unfortunately in all too many cases, Responders | | | | information travels with the child. This unique |
| or Emergency Room personnel will have no | | | | system of letting responders know there's an ID |
| information on an injured child until they can locate | | | | on the car seat through the use of window and |
| a relative. That means they will lose critical | | | | seat decals is the only one we have found that |
| treatment time in caring for your child. | | | | gives such help. Additionally, the form is not a |
| What could have been done in advance to | | | | sticker, but a separate information sheet (which |
| eliminate this problem? One answer would have | | | | can also hold a medical release card, parents |
| been to have a form of Child ID on the car or | | | | business card, etc.) placed in the holder that can |
| booster seat. Here are some ways to create an | | | | be taken out and updated as the child gets older. |
| ID: | | | | It is always necessary to update the ID form |
| Write all the information down about your child on | | | | when any information on the child changes. |
| a piece of paper and put it into your glove box. | | | | No matter what system you use, it is critical that |
| The risk of course is that if the child is in an | | | | some type of information is provided and made |
| accident, the information will never be found. | | | | accessible to First Responders or Emergency |
| Many local police or fire departments will provide a | | | | Room personnel so precious time can be saved in |
| sticker that can be placed on a car seat giving | | | | the treatment of your child. |
| such information as the child's name, address, and | | | | |