Sen. Ossoff introduces new legislation with Rep. Nikema Williams to improve safety for children traveling on domestic airlines
Nearly seven million children travel alone on domestic flights each year, according to an analysis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is introducing new legislation to make air travel safer and easier for families with kids.
Sen. Ossoff and Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) introduced the Kids Fly Safe Act to improve Georgia children’s safety while flying on domestic airlines or waiting at U.S. airport terminals.
Sen. Ossoff and Rep. Williams’ new legislation would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a comprehensive study on the upgrades needed to improve child safety at U.S. airports and on domestic flights — such as updated evacuation protocols for children.
According to analysis, nearly seven million children in the U.S. travel alone on domestic flights each year. A recent study of more than 100,000 domestic flights also found that lap infants represent approximately 35.8% of reported in-flight injuries.
The Kids Fly Safe Act directs the FAA to partner with the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to identify new, sustainable methods that will ensure the health and well-being of children who are traveling on commercial airlines in the U.S.
“Flying with kids can be stressful. Georgia families bringing children through our airports need facilities that will keep kids safe in crowded and complex environments,” Sen. Ossoff said. “Our Kids Fly Safe Act will help give parents peace of mind that their children are safe and secure at our nation’s airports and on-board commercial airliners.”
“Parents like me know that flying with kids can be dangerous. When my Cartercakes was smaller, I appreciated being able to hold him in-flight, but I always worried what would happen if we hit turbulence,” Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) said. “Safety isn’t one size fits all, and we must be intentional when considering the needs of our young fliers. The Kids Fly Safe Act will be the first comprehensive study of child safety in the domestic aviation industry so we can make flying safer for everyone—no matter their age.”
“Helping Mamas is excited to learn of the Kids Fly Safe Act. Our goal is to make sure children are always safe, happy and thriving whether at home or while traveling. Safe storage of critical safety items like car seats and strollers are essential to the health and well-being of children,” Jamie Lackey, CEO of Helping Mamas, Inc. said. “We believe the Kids Fly Safe Actis a comprehensive needed step to ensure that all children and families have access to safe flying in airports and on planes. We are thankful to Senator Ossoff and Congresswoman Williams for taking the lead on this important issue.”
“Keeping infants and young children restrained in child safety seats helps keep them comfortable and safe on airplanes. Helping parents understand which child safety seats fit comfortably in different airplane seats helps keep young children in restraints. It’s also important that airplane seats be designed to allow for easy installation of child safety seats,”Jonathan D. Rupp, Ph.D., Director of the Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory (IPRCE), Emory University School of Medicine said. “The Kids Fly Safe Act is an important step toward making air travel safer for our children. The Injury Prevention Research Center at Emory applauds Senator Ossoff and Congresswoman Williams for their leadership in proposing this Act.”
Click here to read the Kids Fly Safe Act.
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