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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 1990)
Smoke Signals December 1990 page 4 COMMUNITY NHTSA Alerts Parents About Evenflo Child Safety Seat Recall The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today urged owners of certain Evenflo child safety seats to obtain a free repair kit and install a new buckle assembly on seats that are being recalled by Evenflo because they do not meet NHTSA's safety standard for child seats. According to NHTSA Administrator Jerry Ralph Curry, the recall announced today by Evenflo involved more than 3 million child safety seats manufactured between April 15, 1985 and April 22, 1990. Each seat has a black buckle housing and red push button belt release. "The problem with these seats is that at times the buckle can look buckled and feel buckled even when it is not completely latched. This can give users a false sense of security that the child is protected. However, if the buckle is not completely latched, it can release during a crash and substantially reduce the protection provided to the child," Curry said. Curry explained that the remedy for this safety prob lem is the installation of a new buckle assembly, which will be provided free of charge by Evenflo. The installa tion can be performed easily by consumers. Curry said owners of safety seats involved in the recall campaign should contact Evenflo promptly for the free repair kit by calling toll-free 1-800-837-8926 or by writing to Evenflo at 1801 Commerce Drive, Piqua, Ohio 45356. Evenflo will need to know the model number and date of manufacture to determine whether a specific safety scat is among those recalled. This information can be found on a label affixed to the side -or back of the safety seat. Curry said the recall includes infant-only car seats with model numbers 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 448, 458, 201, and 202. convertible (infanttoddler) car scats with model numbers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 414, 415, 416, 417, 453, 454, 221, 223; and booster scats with model numbers 470, 471, and 242. Curry stressed that consumers should continue to use the safety seats until they install the repair kits. But he cautioned, "After buckling in a child, ensure that the buckle is fully engaged by vigorously pulling on the crotch strap. Parents who have questions about this campaign or any other safety recall campaign should call NHTSA's toll free Auto Safety Hotline at (800) 424-9398 (36600123 in Washington, D.C.) New JOM Staff Due to the departure of Ms. Camille Van Vlcct, the JOM Program has since hired Mrs. Barbara Lcno Steer to fill the JOM Coordinator position. Ms. Steer officially started effective November 28th, 1990. We welcome Barbara. Look forward to meeting her in the near future. 6 7 , y " 4 ENGAGEMEf2ii; ANTMniiMrcn ' '4 y ? "'A' ' Michael Wjute of Quuicy, UukJJ, 00As jBrendb Oifjsotf of Camp Point, xfo&fjfy Michael is the son of Bud White of McMtnnville, 0& t will be a great day when our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber -WILPF copyright 1978 Words to Grow On Many years ago, Indian youths would go away in solitude to prepare for manhood. One such youth hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees, bright with flowers. There he fasted. But on the third day, as he looked up at the surrounding mountains, he noticedone tall rugged peak, capped with dazzling snow. "I will test myself against that mountain", he thought. He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders and set off to climb the peak. When he reached the top he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, he saw a snake. Before he could move, the snake spoke: "I am about to die", said the snake. "It is too cold for me up here and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me down to the valley." "No," said the youth. "I am forewarned. I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me." "Not so," said the snake. "I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you." The youth resisted awhile, but this was a very persua sive snake with beautiful markings. At last the youth tucked it under his shirt and carried it down to the valley. There he laid it gently on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled and leapt, biting him on the leg. "But you promised---" cried the youth. "You knew what I was when you picked me up," said the snake as it slithered away. THIS STORY IS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE TEMPTED BY DRUGS. RE MEMBER THE WORDS OF THE SNAKE: "YOU KNEW WHAT I WAS WHEN YOU PICKED ME UP." By Iron Eyes Cody. Farm Safety for Kids One out of five farm families will be affected by a farm accident resulting in an injury this year. Since children are an important part of the farm labor source, the need for greater attention to farm safety is of the utmost im portance. Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) is pleased to support the Farm Safety for "Just Kids" campaign. Farm Safety for "Just Kids" is a national safety organi zation whose goal is to increase awareness of farm injury prevention and safety for children as well as parents. Educational material including a film, safety fact sheet, warning decals, and childrens workbooks will be distrib uted to FmHA County offices throughout Oregon. FmHA employees at all levels will be encouraged to gel involved and help spread the farm safety message. Marilyn Adams, president and founder of Farm Safely for "Just Kids", was a featured speaker at the 1990 FmHA Wellness Coordinators Conference held in July. She described how the loss of her 11 year old son in a farm accident led her to form the organization. She has worked with FFA, 4-H and other organizations to educate students and parents about farm safety. Her goal is to prevent farm accidents which result in the death of 300 young people and 5,000 serious injuries each year. Mrs. Adams offers fifteen tips to prevent farm accidents. 1. Do not allow children as extra riders on equipment. 2. Do not allow children to play with idle machinery. 3. Leave any equipment that might fall - such as front end loaders - in the down position. 4. When self-propelled machinery is parked, brakes should be locked and keys removed from the ignition. 5. Always leave a tractor PTO in neutral. 6. When starting machinery - especially when reversing it - know where the children are. 7. Maintain machinery in good repair, particularly protective shields, RPOS and seat belts. 8. Do not permit kids to operate machinery until they have completed safety training. 9. Fence farm ponds and manure pits. 10. Place fixed ladders out of reach, or fit with a special barrier; store portable ladders away from danger areas. 11. Shield dangerous machinery components and electrical boxes and wiring and place out of reach of small children, or fit with locking devices. 12. Store chemicals and pesticides in a locked area. 13. Place warning decals on all grain bins, wagons and trucks. 14. Maintain lights and reflectors for all equipment used on roads. 15. Devote one day each year to family safety instruc tions and rules. FmHA encourages farm parents to begin today to compile a list of your farms specific safety hazards. Next, develop an action plan to reduce these hazards. It is up to farm parents to demand safety, utilize common sense, be aware of dangers and teach your children a respect for farm hazards. Agriculture's greatest resource is not the land, climate, buildings and equipment, livestock or crops. It is the children on our farms. Farm parents are urged to make a special effort to promote farm safety in the lives of their children in order to reap a better harvest in the years ahead. Clubs and organizations can contact their local FmHA office to obtain more information regarding farm safety for children. The FmHA office is listed in the telephone directories under U.S. Government.
