Video released during National Passenger
Safety Week, January 22 to 28, to
increase awareness to available parent/caregiver
resources
PLANO,
Texas, Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Three-time
Paralympic Gold Medalist Alana
Nichols is teaming up with Buckle Up for Life – a national
child passenger safety program created by Toyota and Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center – to promote the importance of
child passenger safety in vehicles.
In a public service announcement released during National
Passenger Safety Week (January
22-28), Nichols discusses how child passenger safety was
always a priority for her – yet it grew to an even greater,
intensely personal level of importance when she became a mom.
"As a Paralympic athlete, it's a tremendous privilege to have a
public platform from which I can speak," said Nichols. "And, now as
a mother, one of my strongest passions is to help parents and
caregivers fully appreciate the importance of child passenger
safety."
Nichols shares her personal story in the PSA, which was shot at
Nichols' home. It includes scenes of her playing with her
3-year-old son, Gunnar, as well as the two of them driving through
their Reno, Nevada, neighborhood
in her Toyota Sienna.
She says a catalyst for doing the video was her realization that
only one in four car seats is installed correctly.
"I was shocked when I heard that statistic," she said. "But
perhaps I should not have been because I am the first to
acknowledge car seat installation can be difficult. So, it's
important for people to know there is a program available – Buckle
Up for Life – that can help ensure your car seat is installed
correctly."
Through community events and online resources, Buckle Up for
Life provides parents and caregivers the latest information to help
find the right seats for their children, and how to install and use
those seats properly. They also provide in-person assistance
through their local partner agencies.
"Alana's passion for child passenger safety and her partnership
with Buckle Up for Life will help raise awareness to help save
lives," said Gloria Del Castillo,
child passenger safety expert at Cincinnati Children's and senior
specialist of community engagement for Buckle Up for Life. "As an
athlete, a mom and a member of Team Toyota, her message resonates
with parents and caregivers across the nation."
"Buckle Up for Life strives to ensure families have the
resources and education they need to keep their children safe on
the road," said Keith Jones, senior
manager, Strategic Partnerships, Mobility, Toyota Motor North
America. "Alana's support and her heartfelt video message will
reach thousands of families. And, at Toyota, we will share her
message with team members, customers, and other Toyota partners
throughout the nation."
An avid snowboarder throughout her youth, in 2000 at age 17,
Nichols injured her back while attempting a backflip on her
snowboard. The injury caused her to be paralyzed from the waist
down, but she quickly transitioned to adaptive sports. She is a
five-time Paralympian, and six-time medalist. Nichols is the first
U.S. female Olympian to win gold medals at both the summer
(wheelchair basketball) and winter (alpine ski racing) Paralympic
Games.
About Buckle Up for Life
Buckle Up for Life is a national injury prevention program
for families, created by Toyota and Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Medical Center in 2004, to help keep child passengers safe. The
program partners with leading children's hospitals, community
organizations, local governments, schools and non-profit
organizations to teach parents and children about the proper use of
car seats and seat belts, and to provide free car seats to families
in need. Buckle Up for Life has reached more than 180,000
people in collaboration with over 600 community organizations in
nearly 250 cities nationwide—and expands to new partners each year.
In one city alone, the program nearly tripled the proper use of car
seats among participating families. Toyota has provided funding for
over 90,000 child safety seats for families in need. For more
information about Buckle Up for Life, please visit
www.buckleupforlife.org.
About Cincinnati Children's
Cincinnati Children's ranks No. 3 in the nation in U.S. News
& World Report's 2022-23 listing of Best Children's Hospitals.
A nonprofit, academic medical center established in 1883,
Cincinnati Children's is internationally recognized for improving
child health and transforming delivery of care through research,
education, and innovation. www.cincinnatichildrens.org
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in
the U.S. for more than 65 years, and is committed to advancing
sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs more than 39,000 people in the U.S.
who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of
more than 33 million cars and trucks at our nine manufacturing
plants. By 2025, Toyota's 10th plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture
automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more
electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota
currently offers 20 electrified options, the most among any
automaker, with more in showrooms later this year.
To help inspire the next generation for a career in
STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual
education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive
experience and chance to virtually visit many of our U.S.
manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free
STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips
and more. For more information about Toyota,
visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contact
Victor Vanov
Toyota Corporate Communications
Victor.vanov@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America