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"Mark Bighorse, Training Supervisor for Cherokee Nation EMS, shows a sample of a child’s car seat such as the ones being provided to eligible families during a car seat check sponsored by Cherokee Nation EMS and Cherokee County SAFE KIDS. The Cherokee Nation recently provided $5,000 for the purchase of the car seats." TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation and the SAFE KIDS Chapter of Cherokee County will host a free car seat check on Friday, June 12, from 10 a.m. until 12 noon at the tribe’s EMS building south of Tahlequah. “A large majority of car seats are not installed properly, and educating parents is a must. We care about families in our communities, and that is why we want to be involved in helping not only Cherokees, but all those living in our area,” said Mark Bighorse, Training Supervisor for Cherokee Nation EMS. According to national statistics, close to 85 percent of car seats are not used properly, and motor vehicle accidents account for nearly 42 percent of all unintentional childhood injury-related deaths of children under the age of 14 years. Anyone can get their car seat installation checked during the event. In addition, a limited number of car seats are available to parents and to women in their ninth-month of pregnancy who reside in either Cherokee or Adair counties. There is a limit to one seat per family and parents must qualify or be a participant in either the Cherokee Nation or State of Oklahoma WIC program or the child must be enrolled in SoonerCare. Other restrictions may apply. This past week, the Cherokee Nation provided $5,000 in funding to the local SAFE KIDS chapter to help purchase items such as the car seats for this type of assistance. “We appreciate the Cherokee Nation for their partnership with us in this effort, and we are very fortunate to be able to use their facility for our event,” said Lynne McAllister, Chairperson for the Cherokee County SAFE KIDS chapter. For more information, call 918-456-8826.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org