http://camden.villagesoup.com//Community/Story.cfm?StoryID=21486

Safety seat saves infant in Warren, ME crash
By Anthony Ronzio and David Munson

WARREN (March 25, 2004): It was a recipe for disaster: slippery
roads, a head-on collision and a young child in the car.

But tragedy was averted Sunday, when 1-year-old Kianna Kliewer
escaped a serious accident unharmed - thanks to a properly
installed
child safety seat and a group of caring volunteers.

"It made a big difference," said Knox County Sheriff's Deputy Corey
Dodge about the child seat holding 1-year-old Kliewer.

Dodge credited the proper installation of the safety seat to saving
the infant girl from serious injury following a crash Sunday morning
in Warren.

Kliewer's mother, Amanda Funk, struck a tree head-on after losing
control of her 1999 Pontiac on Route 131.

Two passengers in the car were hospitalized through Monday as a
result of the crash. Funk was treated and released from the emergency
room, while young Kliewer was miraculously uninjured.

The seat that protected Kliewer was installed just a few weeks before
the crash during a child safety seat check-up at Fuller Auto Mall in
Rockport.

In addition to providing a warm place for the February inspections,
Fuller also donated a number of new safety seats to the inspection
program, which was organized by the Midcoast Chapter of Maine SAFE
KIDS and the Penobscot Bay Medical Center Child Passenger Safety
Program.

The inspections are conducted by certified safety seat technicians
and are aimed at educating parents about the importance of using
safety seats and installing them properly.

According to Nola Metcalf, coordinator for the PBMC Child Passenger
Safety Program, nine out of 10 child safety seats in Knox County are
installed improperly.

"Accidents like this show exactly why we do these inspections,"
Metcalf said. "It's a perfect example of the importance of a properly
installed safety seat."

Metcalf works closely with Midcoast SAFE KIDS, businesses like
Fullers and other safety seat technicians to organize at least one
inspection in the Midcoast each month.

The ultimate goal of the inspections is to prevent tragedy by
teaching safety and prevention, and make stories like Kiewer's
inspire other parents to be cautious when traveling with their
children.

Rockport pediatrician and child safety seat technician Dr. William
Stephenson installed Kliewer's seat. He hopes the accident will open
other parents' eyes to car seat safety.

"It feels great to have been a part of this, and that everything
worked out well for the infant," Stephenson said.

"I put the seat in because it was my turn - all the technicians
deserve credit. It was a chain of good things happening that
prevented a tragedy."

Many parents tend to tempt fate. Dodge sees them during his rounds as
a deputy, and the violators range from the innocent to the egregious.

"Last month, I stopped a guy who had a baby in the front seat wearing
just a seatbelt," said Dodge.

More common sights, to everyone on the road and not just police, are
kids moving around in cars without being belted at all.

Dodge is going to write a letter about the child seat to Midcoast
SAFE KIDS to validate its role in saving the infant Kliewer from
serious injury or worse.

A commendation for her mother, Funk, for her care and caution is also
in order.

"You should give credit where credit is due," the deputy said.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, April 2, 2004 - 02:36 pm:

That's good news, Trina!