February is the month for l'amour (that means love in French). But better yet, thanks to my friends at NHTSA (which stands for National Highway Safety Traffic Safety Administration - that's a long one) it's also National Passenger Safety Month.   Check out these sweet safety seat tips and make sure all your special valentines are safely secure when riding in the car! Make sure you are sitting in the safety seat that is right for your height and weight (sometimes it's tricky, ask a grown-up to help). If you are one year old or older and weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, (usually less than 42 inches tall) you fit in an infant seat. If you are under eight years old and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds, (usually between 42 and 57 inches tall) you fit in a booster seat. If you are eight years old and weigh more than 80 pounds, (usually 57 inches tall) you should be wearing a safety belt. Kids ages 12 and under should ride buckled up in the back seat. Grown-ups can visit the Risk Watch Web site for more information on safety seats, and fun games for kids too! Send your friends a "Just Sayin' Hi" Sparky e-greeting with a swell safety messgae for Valentine's Day. Create your own "Buckle Up Hearts" and give them to friends and family who buckle up for safety.  The great thing about these hearts is that you can give them to people anytime of the year! I know I'll be giving one to my funny valentine.   What you need: construction paper, crayons, paints or markers, glitter, double-sided tape, heart pattern   What to do: Print out the heart pattern and cut out the shape. Trace the heart on construction paper and cut it out. Write a safety message on the heart. Here are some of my favorites:  I always buckle up.  The back seat is the place to be!  Someone loves me because I buckle up.  Do the "click."   Have fun and create your own safety messages. Ask a grown-up to help you cut out a thin piece of construction paper (about 2 inches long and 1/4 inch wide) and paste it on your heart so that it looks like a safety belt. Decorate your hearts. Put a piece of double-sided tape on the back of each heart. The next time you go for a ride give everyone in the car a "buckle-up heart" to wear (that is of course, if they're buckled up). Check out our other "Cool to Do" pages: Snowdog! Countdown to a safe holiday "Turkey Tips" place cards Say thanks to your firefighters Back to school cool Countdown to the Fourth of July Sparky's Bike Safety Tips Sparky's Easter/Passover greeting cards Sparky's Safety Rap Origami Sparky Puppet Fireworks are Risky Business! Sparky's ABCs of Fire Safety Breeze into Spring with a Sparky windsock 20 Questions with an Emergency Room Doctor Sparky's Snack Time! Make Your Mark! 20 Questions for a Fire Chief Making Your Great Escape Fun! Scavenger Hunt for Poisons   Sparky® and Sparky the Fire Dog® are registered trademarks of the NFPA.
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