WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
-
To determine the knowledge level of Head Start providers, parents, and students about booster seats and to directly observe booster seat use before and after a combined educational program and booster seat giveaway. ⋯ This study indicates that a booster seat giveaway can be successful in increasing the number of children who use booster seats; however, the majority (66%) of participating children still rode inappropriately restrained after the giveaway. Steps beyond providing booster seats, such as combining this intervention with ongoing parent and community education efforts, as well as legislation and enforcement, are needed to bring booster seat use to a high level. The information from this study may be helpful in designing future programs intended to increase booster seat use, as well as emphasizing the need for booster seat legislation.