Event offers free kids’ identification cards and child safety seat inspections 

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – In an effort to keep kids safe and parents worry-free this summer, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 have scheduled a free Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) event at the Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview. 

Parents, grandparents and caregivers are invited to stop by to create kids’ identification cards and get help with child safety seat inspections.  

The K.I.S.S. event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, at the Kohl Children’s Museum, 2100 Patriot Boulevard in Glenview.  

The museum will offer a host of children’s activities and $2 off admission for those who participate in the K.I.S.S. event, whichwill take place in the museum’s parking lot. “K.I.S.S. events provide free safety seat checks and I.D. cards to help keep children safe whether they’re on or off the road,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. 

"With more than 80 percent of safety seats in Illinois installed incorrectly, these events provide a valuable service and peace of mind for parents, grandparents and caregivers." 2012 K.I.S.S. events offer the opportunity to have identification cards created for children age 3 and older. 

Specially trained professionals will take kids’ photographs and fingerprints and gather vital information to include on two personal identification cards – one for home and one for a wallet or purse. 

This information will not be stored by police, but rather, used by parents and others in the event of an emergency. More than 2,100 children – almost two children per minute – are reported missing every day in the United States.  Law enforcement and others need proper identification that is immediately available before they can take action. 

Many lost children can be located if parents immediately provide police with an accurate description of the child. As in past years, K.I.S.S. events will provide certified child passenger safety technicians to inspect and install child safety seats and help drivers stay up-to-date with the latest safety seat information and educational materials. 

Properly installed safety seats eliminate a potential distraction for drivers and significantly reduce the risk of injury or greater tragedy for children in the event of an accident.  And yet, 80 percent of child safety seats in Illinois are improperly installed. “Child safety seats are critical to saving lives,” said District 15 Commander Joseph Perez.  “But, it’s important that the child safety seat is installed properly to reduce the chances of a child being injured in a car accident.” K.I.S.S. events also offer a convenient way for drivers to make sure they comply with Illinois law, which requires that whenever a person is transporting a child under age 8, the person is responsible for properly securing the child in an appropriate child restraint system. To participate, parents, grandparents and caregivers should bring child safety seats, children and the vehicle in which the child safety seats will be installed.  Information on recalls and recall detection, correct positioning, correct sizing to protect the child most effectively, plus additional safety information and resources will be offered at these events. K.I.S.S. events are scheduled at a variety of locations along the 286-mile Illinois Tollway system throughout Northern Illinois.  For more information, visit the Tollway’s website atwww.illinoistollway.com.  

Child Safety Seat Basics The safest place for infants, toddlers and young children to ride is in the back seat with the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight.  Some of the more common problems District 15 inspectors pinpoint include too much slack in harness straps, not properly anchoring the car seat, improper seat size for the child’s weight and the need for booster seats for older children. Infants should ride rear-facing until at least 20 pounds and 12 months of age, longer if possible, to protect their developing muscles and bones.  Rear-facing child safety seats protect a growing baby’s head, neck and back in an accident. 

Toddlers and young children up to age 4 should ride in a child safety seat with an internal harness until they reach the maximum harness limit of up to 40 pounds. A booster seat is the most effective way to position a safety belt properly on a young child's growing body. 

Safety belts are designed for adults who are at least 80 pounds and 4 feet 9 inches tall.  Until age 8, most children have not developed strong hipbones and their legs and body are too short for the adult safety belt to fit correctly, without use of a booster seat. 

About Kohl Children’s Museum Kohl Children’s Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview, Ill., at the corner of Patriot Boulevard and West Lake Avenue in the newly redeveloped area known as The Glen.  The Museum can be easily reached by public transportation, including Pace bus and Metra trains.  For more information, visit the Museum’s website at www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org or call 847-832-6600. 

The Museum is open on Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. (open until 5 p.m. June – August), Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.  Special members-only hours are from Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Admission prices are $9.50 for children and adults and $8.50 for senior citizens.  Children under 1 year old and members are free. 

About the Illinois Tollway The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).