Free Car Seat Check

FREE CAR SEAT CHECK!

Keeping children safe when riding in the car is a priority for parents and caregivers. But it's not an easy task to find the right car seat. After all, there are several types of seats-from infant to convertible and booster-depending on your child's age, size and developmental level. Even after you find the right one, it's important to know how to install your car seat correctly and when to transition your child to another type of seat as your child grows older. Many parents and caregivers assume they know how to choose and use the correct child restraints for their children, but these restraints are frequently used incorrectly.

Before transporting a child, Washington County Public Health recommends that parents use an appropriate child safety seat for their child. The best car seat is one that fits your child and vehicle properly and is easy to use correctly on EVERY ride. Follow the vehicle owner's manual and car seat manufacturer's instructions carefully to make sure your car seat is used properly and correctly installed.

"There is a HUGE gap between people who Think their car seats are in right and those that actually have their seats installed right," said Elizabeth St John, Washington County Public Health's Senior Health Educator and Certified Car Seat Technician Instructor. "In my 23 years of doing car seat checks, I can't count on both hands the number of car seats that I have seen installed 100% correct... Those that I do see in right are usually people who have been to a check before, have moved their seats to a different car and just want to make sure they did it right."

Even well-educated, safety-conscious parents often make unsuspected mistakes that can result in serious injuries to their children. According to the CDC, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. But many of these deaths can be prevented. Placing children in age- and size-appropriate car seats and booster seats reduces serious and fatal injuries by more than half. The best way to know for sure that your child's car seat is correct is to have the seat checked by a certified car seat technician.

You can have your seat checked by a certified car seat technician at the FREE car seat check at the Fort Edward Rescue Squad, 75 Schuyler Street, Fort Edward, NY 12828 on Thursday, July 18thf from 11:00am-2:30pm.

Certified car seat technicians will be on hand to check car seats for proper fit, use, possible recall and to help parents and caregivers on how to use the seat right. If a car seat is found to be unsafe, a limited number of car seats may be available for a donation.

The car seat check is sponsored by New York State Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, Washington County Public Health, and the Fort Edward Rescue Squad.

For more information, contact Elizabeth St. John, Washington County Public Health, at 746-2400 x3478.

If additional information is needed for this press release, please contact Elizabeth St. John, Health Educator at Washington County Public Health, 746-2400, ext. 3478. Thank you

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.