Twitter Chat: Hot Cars Kill Kids

Every 10 days, vehicular heatstroke kills a child in the United States. Every 10 days, a parent loses a child to a preventable death. Since 1998, there have been 677 deaths – including 16 already this year. It's time to stop vehicular heatstroke from killing our children. The time to take action is now! 

On July 12, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is hosting a Twitter chat to raise awareness about the dangers of heatstroke. Join them in this life-saving conversation with tweets and retweets of your own. Take this message to your friends, families, and followers, and tell them to share it, too.

Who: NHTSA and YOU! 

What: #HeatstrokeKills Twitter Chat 

When: Tuesday, July 12, 2016, 3-4 p.m. ET 

Where: www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov 

How: Follow the conversation using the hashtag #HeatstrokeKills. Feel free to mention @NHTSAgov in any of your tweets and they will get back to as many questions and comments as they can! Remember to include #HeatstrokeKills in your comments so others can follow along with the conversation, too. 

Join NHTSA on Twitter on July 31 for a Heatstroke Tweetup

Did you know that heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash-related deaths for children under 14? Already 10 children this year have lost their lives to heatstroke after being left in vehicles. In fact, each year, an average of 37 children die from vehicle heatstroke.

While it seems like an impossible mistake to make, every parent or caregiver can potentially become distracted, and distractions often fuel this devastating situation. No one is immune. This tragedy is 100% preventable. We each have a role to play to help keep kids safe. Help  share live-saving tips and resources with as many people as you can about this important safety topic. Join National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Tweetup. Your support can help us prevent tragedies.

nHTSA will be tweeting all day on Friday, July 31, 2015, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET with the hashtags #heatstrokekills and#checkforbaby. They’ll be sharing information, safety tips, badges, infographics, and other resources to help spread the word about the dangers of vehicle heatstroke.

Use these sample messages to get your followers involved in the Tweetup:

Twitter:

• Do you know that #heatstrokekills? Join @NHTSAgov’s #Heatstroke Tweetup Friday, July 31, to help spread awareness.
• On average, #heatstrokekills 37 children each year. Follow @NHTSAgov’s #Heatstroke Tweetup Friday, July 31, to help change this stat.
• Summer days are hot! Don’t let them end in tragedy. Follow @NHTSAgov’s #Heatstroke Tweetup Friday, July 31. #heatstrokekills
• Interior car temps rise quickly! Learn more about the dangers of #heatstroke during @NHTSAgov’s Heatstroke Tweetup, July 31. #heatstrokekills
• Act fast, save a life. Bystanders can help. #checkforbaby #Heatstroke Tweetup Friday, July 31.

Facebook:

• Vehicle #heatstroke deaths are 100% preventable. Join @NHTSAgov for a heatstroke Tweetup onFriday, July 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Safercar.gov/heatstroke. #heatstrokekills #checkforbaby
• On average, 37 children die each year from vehicle heatstroke. Help NHTSA change this number to zero. Join us for a heatstroke Tweetup with @NHTSAgov on Friday, July 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. #heatstrokekills #checkforbaby
• We’re joining @NHTSAgov on Friday, July 31, 2015, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET to help put an end to help end vehicle #heatstroke. Join with the hashtags #heatstrokekills and #checkforbaby.

Encourage your family and friends to be proactive about responding to potential heatstroke situations or victims. Join NHTSA for the Heatstroke Tweetup on Friday, July 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and I invite everyone to participate in the Tweetup, too.

Join NHTSA's Twitter Chat to spread the word about Tweens and seat belts - March 12

Parenting a tween involves compromise. But here’s one rule that’s not up for debate – the car doesn’t move until everyone is wearing a seat belt. If you say it, and if parents buckle up themselves, your tween will buckle up. And if they don’t, that’s a fight worth having. It might just save your tween’s life.

Over the past 5 years, 1,609 kids ages 8-14 were not wearing seat belts when they died in a crash - one in four were age 14. As children get older they’re less likely to buckle up. Our “Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” campaign aims to put an end to this trend – but NHTSA needs your help.

On March 12, NHTSA will hold a Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up Twitter Chat to help spread the word to parents about the need to wear seat belts. During the chat you can question NHTSA experts, engage with your followers, and help ensure that tweens grow up to become young adults and safe drivers. We’ll also have terrific videos, banners, and other tools you can use to spread this lifesaving message far and wide.

Who: NHTSA and Our Team of Experts

What: Tween “Never Give Up Until They Buckle Up” Twitter Chat (follow along at #kidsbuckleup  and #tweens)

When: Thursday, March 12, 3-4pm Eastern

Where: www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov

How: Use hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens when the chat is about to start to join in the conversation. Feel free to mention @NHTSAGov in any of your tweets and NHTSA will get back to as many of your questions or comments as they can! Remember to include the hashtags #kidsbuckleup and #tweens in your comments so others can follow the conversation.

 Let your friends  know the dangers of failing to wear a seat belt and that parents are an essential part of protecting their kids by insisting on seat belt use at all times and by sending the right message by always wearing seat belts themselves 

Fourth of July Buzzed Driving Twitter Chat

Driving buzzed can turn celebration into tragedy in an instant. With July 4th approaching, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding people of the cost of buzzed driving over the holiday. In 2012, 179 people were killed in crashes over the holiday period. Of those deaths, 44 percent were in crashes that involved alcohol.

We’re asking for your support to remind everyone to plan ahead - to ensure their Fourth of July list includes not only fireworks at the park and hot dogs on the grill, but a sober ride home for themselves or their guests. The only red, white, and blue we want anyone to see this holiday should be from the fireworks, not from cops and ambulances.

On July 2nd, NHTSA is hosting a Twitter chat to discuss the dangers of buzzed driving in an easy to share way. They’re also posting tips on how to keep the roads sober and still enjoy the holiday. 

WHEN: July 2nd at 4pm ET

WHERE: http://www.twitter.com/NHTSAgov, use hash tag #buzzeddriving

NHTSA Hosting Twitter Chat on Buzzed Driving, Tuesday at 2 pm ET

Every year, thousands of lives are lost due to impaired driving on holidays such as St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, over 700 people died from 2006-2010 on St. Patrick’s Day alone because of drunk driving.

That’s why this year we’re talking about more than shamrocks. On Tuesday, March 12, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hosting a Twitter chat to discuss the dangers of buzzed and drunk driving. Starting at 2 pm ET,NHTSA safety experts will be on hand to answer your questions about buzzed driving. They’ll be sharing facts and tips for how to keep safe and make certain you can enjoy the party while still getting home alive.

Remember:

• A person is killed every 51 minutes from drunk driving.
• 129 people in 2010 died on St. Patrick’s Day because of drunk driving.
• Plan a safe way home BEFORE the party starts.
• If you see someone driving buzzed on the road, call your local law enforcement.

We want people to know the very real risks of driving buzzed. It can result in jail time, loss of driver’s license, or, worst of all, loss of life. You have the power to help. Come join NHTSA on 3/12 at 2pm, ET, on Twitter. Follow the hash tag #buzzeddriving and ask questions.

Help Save Lives with the National Seat Check Saturday/Child Passenger Safety Week

Each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in automobile accidents. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 and older.

The reason? Most parents and caregivers don't realize that their children aren't properly restrained in their car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that nearly 3 out of 4 car seats are not used correctly.

We're aiming to change that with National Seat Check Saturday on September 25.  As part of Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25), communities nationwide will have certified technicians available to provide hands-on child safety seat inspections and advice - for free!

You can find instructional videos, handy informational flyers, and links to product ratings and recall lists at  http://childcarsafety.adcouncil.org/

Additionally, the Child Passenger Safety Twitter account (@childseatsafety) will be hosting a Twitter party on Wednesday, September 22 at 2 p.m. EST. NHTSA experts will be available to offer information and insight on car seats and how to travel safely with children. Just use the hashtag #CPSweek to follow along and ask your questions.

For more information on Child Passenger Safety Week and to find your local car seat inspection station visit http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS or http://www.facebook.com/childpassengersafety.