Baby seat stickers speed medical help

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Monday, September 29, 2008 10:06 AM CDT

For the Herald

In observance of National Child Passenger Safety Week (Sept. 21-27), AAA Wisconsin has unveiled its new “Baby ICE” initiative. ICE is short for “In Case of Emergency.” The Baby ICE program urges motorists to place emergency contact stickers on their vehicles’ child safety seats to speed medical treatment and notification of loved ones in case of a traffic crash.

Baby ICE is an extension of the ICE program launched by AAA Wisconsin in 2006. The original ICE program encourages motorists to program their cell phones and carry cards in their vehicles listing individuals to contact in case of emergency.

“Following a traffic crash or other emergency, it is critical to get immediate medical treatment for victims and notify their loved ones,” said AAA Wisconsin Regional President Tom Frymark. “Too often these actions are delayed for children because law enforcement officials and other emergency response personnel cannot quickly identify and reach victims’ emergency contacts.”

This problem is easily remedied if everyone who transports children attaches an emergency contact sticker to each child’s seat as called for in the Baby ICE program. AAA Wisconsin has produced Baby ICE stickers that are available free of charge at all local AAA Wisconsin offices.

Stickers should be filled out and placed on the right corner of the child seat under the cushion, or on the center back of the child seat.

“No one ever plans to be in a traffic crash, but they are an unfortunate occurrence every day,” Frymark said. “Anything motorists can do to help responders quickly locate emergency contact information will help save precious time in getting victims the help they need and notifying their loved ones.”

AAA Wisconsin, which serves more than 600,000 members, offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG clubs belong to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization, with 50 million members in the United States and Canada.