CLEVELAND – Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children over the age of 1. While riding restrained is the most effective means of preventing injury in a crash, many Ohio children are at risk because their parents choose inappropriate restraint methods, like moving children directly from car seats to seat belts. Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping parents keep kids safe in and around cars and Kohl’s has teamed up with Rainbow to fund an innovative program to do just that—Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids. On Tuesday, September 18, at Sammy’s in Legacy Village, Kohl’s will reaffirm its commitment to the safety of Greater Cleveland’s children through the presentation of a check in the amount of $153,220.52 to support the second year of its partnership with Rainbow.

Kohl’s check presentation will coincide with the introduction of a bill in the Ohio House by Representative Shannon Jones to be introduced later this week that would mandate booster seat use for children under 8 years of age or 4’9” in height. “While we have made tremendous strides in ensuring that the majority of infants and toddlers on American roads are traveling in car seats during their first years,” says Kathryn Wesolowski, Manger of the Rainbow Injury Prevention Center, “children are significantly less likely to be protected—and protected in age and weight-appropriate ways—as they grow.” Seat belts are made to fit adults, not children, and youngsters who have outgrown car seats are better protected by booster seats, which lift children up so the seat belt fits properly over the shoulder, chest, and hips, yet Partners for Child Passenger Safety estimates that only 12% of children between the ages of 4 and 7 are traveling in booster seats.

During the first year of Kohl’s Safe Rides for All Kids program, Rainbow launched the popular Boost Your Booty campaign to reach out to parents and other caregivers of children aged 4 to 8. Tim O’Dougherty, Kohl’s district manager, will present a check in support of Boost Your Booty and other Safe Rides programs at 12:15 pm during the Greater Cleveland Safe Kids/Safe Communities Coalition’s annual member recognition luncheon, which highlights Coalition members community-based injury prevention efforts.

Kohl’s commitment to Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is made possible through Kohl’s Cares for Kids. Net profits from the sale of special merchandise supports children’s health and education; through 2006, Kohl’s has raised more than $85 million for such initiatives nationwide. The program also includes the Kohl’s Kids Who Care® Scholarship Program for youth volunteers, fundraising gift cards for local schools and nonprofit groups, and an associate program to encourage volunteerism.