Education Programs

Crash Helmet®

Since 1990, Dean Foundation's Crash Helmet^® program has been working to reduce the risk of head injuries caused by biking accidents through encouraging children and the entire family to wear bicycle helmets. 

In September 2009, an all-new brightly-colored Crash Helmet^® with splash design and rejuvenated body was revealed.

Crash Helmet^® can be seen traveling to area schools, daycare centers and community events sharing the importance of wearing a bike helmet. Being out in the community for almost twenty years, this comical, lovable character is a community icon.

Have an event or program you'd like Crash Helmet^® to attend? Contact the Passenger Safety Educator or call (608) 827-2327.

BUCKLEBEAR

Riding the BUCKLEBEAR Way 

BUCKLEBEAR wants YOU and YOUR little ones to ride his way. Riding in a car the BUCKLEBEAR way is the safe way!

• Everybody Buckles Up!
  Unrestrained passengers can cause injuries to others, as well as themselves.

• Buckle Across Hips, Not Tummy!
  For maximum safety, buckle the regulation belt over hips, not tummy.

• Riding the NICE way!
  Buckled-up children are good passengers. They don't interfere with the driver.

• Sidewalk Side for Safety!
  Exit on the grass or curb side. On the street side, passing drivers may not see small children.

• Back Seat, Best Seat!
  Most statistics show the back seat to be the safest. There's less hard surface to collide with in a sudden stop or collision.

Through discussion, a video presentation, a rhyme and a song, BUCKLEBEAR teaches children about car safety. By encouraging the use of seat belts, BUCKLEBEAR helps ensure each ride is a safe one.

If your school or group would like a free visit from Dean Foundation's BUCKLEBEAR contact the Passenger Safety Educator or call (608) 827-2327

Every Ride a Safe Ride

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths among children 14 and under. Despite the existence of child occupant protection laws in all 50 states, riding unrestrained continues to be the primary threat to young passengers in our country.

Dean Foundation offers the Every Ride a Safe Ride program to promote child passenger safety and educate the public to ride safe. Through this program you can:

• Rent car seats for children
• Receive free car seat inspections for drivers who have their own child safety seat
• Obtain restraints for children with special transportation needs

New to buying a car seat?

Here are some guidelines for choosing the right car seat.

• Infants up to age 1 and 20 lbs. should be in a rear facing car seat, the child should remain rear-facing to the maximum weight of the child safety seat - see the owners manual for details
• Toddlers over 1 and 20+ to 40 lbs. should be in a forward facing child safety seat
• 4 - 8 years and 40 - 80 lbs. should be in belt positioning boosters

How long should a child use a booster seat?

A booster seat should be used until the seat belt fits well. Try this 5-step test for a proper seat belt fit.

• The child can sit all the way back against the seat
• The child's knees bend naturally at the seat edge
• The lap belt rests on the top part of the thighs
• The shoulder belt fits across the middle of the shoulder
• The child can sit this way for the whole trip