Tragically, approximately 50 children under the age of five are backed over by vehicles every week in the United States in their own driveways. Of those 50, two usually die.

A family member also causes the death – by unknowingly backing over the child in a vehicle as they are leaving the driveway. The “blind spot” in their vehicle, particularly prominent in SUVs, was a contributor to this tragedy, and was also aided by the driver not physically walking to the back of the vehicle to make sure so child was at play before putting the car into gear.

In recent months, this type of unintentional death made national headlines when Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman’s five-year-old daughter was backed over by her older brother and killed in the driveway of her Nashville home. But it could easily happen right here in East Tennessee, and the best way to keep a tragedy of this type from happening is simple – education.

To educate both small children and the adults that care for them, Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Safety City, in conjunction with Beaty Chevrolet, will be hosting a “Spot the Tot” program on Wednesday, July 23 beginning at 10:30 a.m. with the LaPetite Academy on Bagley Lane to teach the life or death lesson of not playing in driveways behind motor vehicles. The 45-minute program is interactive, so that the children participating in the program will get a hands-on experience in the many dangers of playing around cars, in driveways and on streets. A long-time Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area partner, Beaty Chevrolet is providing the vehicles that will be used in the Spot the Tot program.

One of the key messages of the Spot the Tot program put on by Safe Kids is to remind parents and adult caregivers that safety begins with them. Children see adults, particularly parents, as role models, and they should be role models in every aspect of life, including safety.  

By teaching simple measures and creating habit forming safety guidelines in children, they’ll have the best chance at enjoying every day – especially when in their own driveways.

Children's Hospital is the lead organization for an important area coalition: Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area. The mission of the local Safe Kids coalition is to reduce unintentional injuries in children up to age fourteen in the East Tennessee region by promoting awareness and implementing prevention initiatives. The local Safe Kids is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, a network of coalitions whose primary purpose is to prevent unintentional injuries in children by providing children and adults caring for them with information about how to stay safe.

For more information about the event, call Children’s Hospital Community Relations Department at (865) 541-8165.