New car seat safety website launched to save Canadian children's lives

GUELPH, ON, Oct. 15 /CNW/ - In celebrating the 10th anniversary of the award-winning Buckle Up Bears car seat inspection program, The Co-operators and the Infant & Toddler Safety Association (ITSA) officially launched a new ITSA website today that will help keep Canadian children safe on our roads. The new website, www.infantandtoddlersafety.ca, hosts educational materials including printable brochures, checklists and videos designed to help adults learn the proper use of child car seats.

"This new site provides yet another avenue to ensure that parents and caregivers across the country can access important child safety information," says Jayne Russell , Manager Public Relations, The Co-operators group of companies. "Our decade-long partnership with ITSA has proven that corporate and non-profit relationships work, and work well, for the betterment and safety of our communities."

The website includes Car Seat Safety Check, the instructional video released last year that provides step-by-step instructions for selecting appropriate car seats and installing them properly. The DVD was released by The Co-operators and ITSA last year, and is being made available online for the first time to make this important information available to more Canadian families.

"Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury in young children. A properly used child restraint can prevent up to 75 per cent of these deaths and injuries," says Valerie Lee , Director, ITSA. "We hope that watching the videos and reading the information on our new website will help keep our children safe on the road."

Over the past 10 years, the Buckle Up Bears program has provided parents and caregivers with tools and support to confidently install their car seats. Representatives of The Co-operators, ITSA, local volunteers and dignitaries gathered in Guelph, Ontario today to celebrate the program's 10th anniversary.

About The Co-operators:

Based in Guelph, Ontario, The Co-operators is a group of Canadian companies offering home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators Group Limited is a 100 per cent Canadian-owned co-operative with assets of $7.5 billion . It is owned by a group of Canadian co-operatives, credit union centrals and like-minded organizations. It is well known for its community involvement, and is listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada .

For further information: Leonard Sharman, The Co-operators, 1-877-795-7272, ext. 2707