With summer around the corner and temperatures beginning to climb, Bergen County Chaverim is taking proactive steps to protect the community’s most vulnerable — distributing mirror tags designed to remind parents to check their back seats and never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, alongside over 1,500 pedestrian safety reflectors.

The mirror tags, which serve as a simple but potentially life-saving prompt, come as warm-weather months historically see a spike in incidents of children left in dangerously hot cars. Chaverim paired the child safety push with a distribution of reflective gear aimed at keeping pedestrians visible after dark — an effort that has taken on added urgency following fatal pedestrian accidents in the county.

“We have had fatalities from people crossing the street,” Sol Itzkowitz, coordinator of Bergen County Chaverim told Belaaz. “Chaverim urges all members of the Bergen County community to wear reflectors when walking at night — it is the simplest way to make sure you are visible. If needed, they will be made available at a designated location where residents can pick them up. Many thanks to Quality Air Heating and Cooling for sponsoring the reflectors.”

The event was coordinated with Rabbi Strauchler of Rinat Yisrael and supported by the Teaneck Police Department, Teaneck Fire Department, Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the CSS Security Organization.
Bergen County Chaverim described the initiative as part of its ongoing mission to enhance safety across the county.