Hello my name is Charlotte

I am 7 yrs old. I am a first grader and I am working towards a special award at my school. I choose to do a community service project. 

I like to play in my front yard riding bikes, scooters and walking down the sidewalks. My parents have taught me to look out for cars. They have told me to listen for the sound and look at the lights to see if they are moving or not. But sometimes I get to busy playing or leave my bike on sidewalks or behind cars. I also worry about my little sister Jo-Jo she is 3 and not as smart as me yet. 

"Jo-Jo NO!!" and "Jo-Jo STOP!!" is something I say all the time while playing and trying to keep her safe. We live on a nice small road with little traffic and people drive ok. But sometimes there are fast and quick cars. Even with our "BOB" out. Bob is our yellow slow kids at play sign. It helps. 

But I want to do more. I found that our local hospital is doing a "SPOT THE TOT" campaign and I wanted to help. I am getting stickers from them and going to ask all my neighbors to help spot the tot and take the pledge. 

As summer is coming and it gets warmer outside more and more kids will be out playing. There are a few simple things you can do to help us all stay safe. 

Please Join me in "SPOT THE TOT" and sign my Pledge to be safe!

Thank you - Charlotte  

Information from Intermountain Health Care website. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/locations/primary-childrens-hospital/hospital-information/child-health-safety/spot-the-tot/

The terms backover and frontover refer to when an infant or child is accidentally rolled over by a moving vehicle in a driveway or parking lot. Though this may seem like a rare occurrence, it happens regularly and carries serious consequences.

In fact, in the warm weather months, every seven days a Utah child is run over in a driveway or parking lot. In the past 10 years, more than 60 Utah children have been killed and more than 500 have been injured by accidental backovers and frontovers. In the U.S., more than 580 children have died in backover/frontover accidents in the last five years, and over 15,000 are injured every year.  

These accidents can happen to anyone, but are preventable by taking a few precautions - and only a few seconds. 

Start Preventing Backovers & Frontovers

Reduce blind spots:

Make sure your side and rear mirrors are always properly adjusted.
Adjust your driver's seat as high as needed to see clearly out the rear window.
Have a backup camera? Great! But remember: even backup cameras have blindspots.

It's important to teach your children not to play in, under or around vehicles, but just in case, it only takes a few seconds and a few simple precautions to prevent a backover/frontover accident.

Make sure you know where all of your children are before you start to drive away, but with a full house - or a full neighborhood - you can never assume that everyone is out of harm's way. 

While drivers of large trucks, vans or SUVs should be especially cautious, every driver should follow these steps before leaving a driveway or parking lot.

1. Walk around your Vehicle - 10 Second walk ensure the area is clear

2. Listen and Beware - Roll down the windows and actively listen 

3. Eliminate Distractions - Turn Down Radio, No Cell Phones, Pause Conversations

Did You Know? 
The most common victim age is one year old - children under five years of age are at the most risk. High profile vehicles such as trucks, vans and SUVs, have the worst front and rear visibility. Mid-morning or late afternoon are when the most accidents happen. Most accidents occur when a parent or guardian is driving.
Backup cameras have blind spots!

Be Smart Before Backing up PDF info card https://intermountainhealthcare.org/-/media/files/facilities/pch/2016-spot-the-tot-hotdl-opt.pdf?la=en​

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/-/media/files/facilities/pch/hotdl-backover-infographic-final.pdf

Thank you - Spot the Tot with me. Sign the Pledge