From www.carseat.org:
If I knew then what I know now
A grandfather and a mother who lost children in car crashes share their stories in the hope that other family tragedies can be prevented.
In memory of Alec
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. gained a very special grandfather as a volunteer and Board Member in 2002. After losing his beloved daughter and precious 22 month-old grandson in a terrible car crash, Marc Cohen decided to take up the cause of correct use of child safety seats. Despite the pain caused by working with children and their parents who remind him of his lost family members, he gains strength and hope by sharing his newly gained skills as a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
As a Speakers Bureau volunteer, Marc has passed our message and materials to countless families who visit health and safety fairs. Recently, on Child Safety Day, he stood by a brand new Toyota van, lent to SBS USA for the event by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., and showed families how the 5-Step Test determines if their children need a booster. He also demonstrated correct installation of a conventional safety seat.
Marc raised scholarship funds to attend the five-day class required for national certification and, since then, has worked tirelessly to protect children. If there is a safety seat checkup he can attend, he’s there. He speaks to passersby in public places and informs colleagues at professional conferences. He offers SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. his time and ideas readily as well as special connections from his professional world. It has become much more than a mission in his life–it is his passion. Marc is taking all of these steps to say “if I knew then what I do now, my grandson Alec, might have survived.
In memory of Ysabel
“My name is Samantha Babcock. I’m the mother of two children, Daniel (age 7) & Ysabel (age 2). I must stress how important it is to have your children properly & safely riding in a vehicle. It can mean the difference between life and death.
“Once I thought the buckle-up laws were just an inconvenience, but since it was the law, mostly, both of my children were in a car seat or safety belt. But sometimes either I would not have a car seat or there weren’t enough safety belts. I used to think it was ok or that nothing would ever happen to us. I don’t think that way any more.
“What I think now is absolutely opposite, because the unthinkable has happened to me. I lost my daughter last July as a result of a car crash when she wasn’t in a car seat, and my son will be physically and mentally affected for the rest of his life.
“If that isn’t bad enough, the state had to prosecute me for child abuse/endangerment. Now that the trial is over, I need to heal. The court is giving me options for my sentence: to speak about my experience at 25 classes within 18 months or to do 200 hours of community service.
“I need as many chances as possible to speak to anyone and everyone about our children’s safety and the repercussions of a “quick” decision. Please let SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. know if I can help by telling my story.”
An important message from Stephanie Tombrello, LCSW, Executive Director, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.:
For more than thirty years, I have watched for a parent who would be willing to speak up after making a decision that led to the death of a child in a motor vehicle crash. Knowing the pain such a circumstance inflicts, it did not surprise me that no one appeared. Until now, no parent whose child was lost was willing to go to other parents and say, “I did it. Don’t make the same mistake.” For this reason, SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. wants to share the story of Ysabel, Samantha’s daughter. Ysabel was ejected from the vehicle and died of major head trauma. Her safety seat had been left at home.
Samantha wants not only to meet the conditions of her judgment in court; make 25 presentations; but also to “try to heal and to prevent others from hurting” by getting her story heard. SBS USA plans to work with her to help make it happen. We encourage readers to let us know if you have a group for whom you believe her personal testimonial would make the difference. If it is possible, we’ll work with Samantha to arrange for it.
SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. • P.O. Box 553, Altadena, CA 91003
