We Have A Little Emergency (WHALE) Program

In 1994, 5,141 children age 4 and under were injured in automobile accidents in New York State. 17 of those children died. Some of those children were not riding in the same vehicles as their parents or guardians. Today, children may ride with a babysitter, grandparents, or other caregivers. In the event of a motor vehicle accident that incapacitates parents or other adult passengers, emergency service personnel have no source of information to identify the child or his/her special medical needs. Also, efforts to identify and contact the child's next-of-kin may be significantly delayed.

In some cases, rescue efforts may proceed more smoothly and efficiently if emergency personnel know the name of the frightened child they are treating. This is where the We Have A Little Emergency (WHALE) program can make a difference.

What the Program Does

The WHALE Program is an identification and information package for child car safety seats created by Connie Day, a caregiver from Richmond, VA, who wondered what would happen to the children in her care in the event of an automobile accident.

The first program of its kind in the United States, WHALE is currently used in 32 states. It requires the use of 4 self-adhesive stickers and 1 informational label.

One informational label attached to the rear of the car seat provides important information about that child in the seat, such as name, date of birth, medical history, and who to contact in case of an emergency. Place a photo of your child in the space provided, and update as the child grows. If placed on the back of the seat, this label and photo will not be visible from the outside of the vehicle, thus ensuring the privacy of these personal facts. Do not use a pen with ink that will smudge, such as a felt tip or rollerball pen.

Two WHALE Car Seat Stickers, attached to the sides of the safety seat, and two WHALE Vehicle Stickers, attached to the rear side windows of the vehicle, depict the WHALE logo and alert rescuers that the vehicle occupants participate in the program.

A Message From Your Little Person

Hey, I'm just a little person. I don't know my name, address, phone number or how to reach any of my relatives. Please help assist me by adding WHALE stickers to my child safety seat. In the event of an accident, the emergency personnel will have my name and knowledge of how to reach someone who really knows my special needs! Thanks again for loving and caring about me.

For more information, contact:
New York State Association of Fire Chiefs
1670 Columbia Turnpike
Castleton, New York 12033

Phone: 518-477-2631 or 800-676-3473