Buckle Up for Life
Car Seat Safety for a Lifetime of Journeys Schedule a Car Seat WorkshopContact Us TodayOur Regional Impact on Passenger Safety and Education
248
Car seats we provided to local families in need in 2022 & 2023.
253
Individuals we provided with car seat, vehicle, and road safety education in 2023.
“Sam is a great advocate for child passenger safety, whose volunteer work has impacted the lives of many among the neediest families in the Bristol area…. With this award, we thank Sam for his service. We couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of the 2017-2018 BUFL Coordinator of the Year award than he is.”
“Thanks for your presentation today. Very informative and useful information that we can practice and hopefully make a habit of doing each day.”
About the National Buckle Up for Life Program
Research by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center – a national leader in pediatric and adolescent medicine found that in the U.S. only 1 in 4 child car seats are properly installed. Adding to this tragedy is the fact that many injuries and deaths are avoidable with the use of proper restraints like child car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. For this reason, in 2004 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and Toyota teamed up to create Buckle Up for Life. Buckle Up for Life is a community-based passenger safety education program that educates the families on critical safety behaviors.
The National Buckle Up for Life program has recognized Appalachian Promise Alliance as a community partner for child passenger safety in our region.
Services We Offer
Car Seat Fit Checks
Not sure how to use your safety seat? Want to make sure it is installed correctly? Our Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) provide hands-on education for using safety seats. Our certified technicians provide this education for free.
For community events we partner with other Child Passenger Safety Technicians in our region to offer car seat checks in the Bristol area. Presently, our partnerships include Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Bristol Tennessee Fire Rescue, and Bristol Virginia Fire Departments.
Education and Classes
We facilitate programming for children, teens, and adults on seat belt safety, and distracted driving. Additionally, we offer training for special needs car seat installation and education, use of car seats on school buses, European car seat installation, and more.
Fill out an interest form online, or contact us to inquire about car seat checks and classes.
Samuel Jones
Buckle Up for Life Program Coordinator
Samuel Jones began volunteering with Appalachian Promise Alliance in 2014 with the Buckle Up for Life Program. At this time Samuel brought Buckle Up for Life to Bristol, shortly after becoming a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). He has been instrumental in an ongoing partnership between Appalachian Promise Alliance and the national Buckle Up for Life program.
After joining Appalachian Promise Alliance, Samuel pursued further training across the vehicle, passenger, and traffic safety fields. Samuel holds many certifications. These include Car Fit Event Coordinator, AARP Driver’s Safety Course Instructor for Virginia, Operation Lifesaver Authorized Volunteer, Special Needs Car Seat Tech, School Bus Car Seat Tech, and European Car Seat Safety Tech. Additionally, he is a trainer for Impact Teen Drivers, a program that develops, promotes, and facilitates evidence-based education to stop the number one killer of teens—car crashes.
Currently, Samuel serves on the National Buckle Up for Life Curriculum Committee. The National Buckle Up for Life program recognized Samuel for his exemplary work through Appalachian Promise Alliance, naming him the 2017-2018 Coordinator of Year. In addition, Samuel was featured in the Bristol Herald Courier when he received the award. He has since received recognition as an honorary Tennesseean from Governor Bill Lee and as an honorary Kentucky Colonel.