ST. LOUIS – Is your child’s car seat installed correctly? Probably not. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of four car seats are either incorrectly installed or not used properly. Correctly installed car seats and/or booster seats save lives and are the best form of protection for children during a crash.
This Saturday, September 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., parents and caregivers with small children can ensure their car seats are installed correctly by attending the MoDOT SHOW ME Safety Fair. Pre-registration is required and can be completed by calling 314-678-5474. The fair will be held at the Berkeley Fire Station located at 8401 Airport Road, Berkeley, MO 63134. This free event is part of National Child Passenger Safety Week, September 15 - 21.
During the fair, child safety seat technicians will provide education and car seat inspections for proper usage, expiration and recall. If needed, replacement seats will be available. Health screenings, as well as educational information on household and auto safety will also be available to attendees.
Organizations that provided resources to make this event possible are The City of Berkeley, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids St. Louis, and Missouri Care Health Plan a Wellcare Company.
While child passenger safety has evolved and state laws requiring child safety restraints have resulted in more children being buckled up, road injuries remain the leading cause of unintentional death to children in the United States.
Quick Tips for Families:
Wear your seat belt: Be sure everyone else in the car buckles up, too. When adults wear seat belts, kids use car seats, booster seats and seat belts. Set a good example and buckle up every ride, every time.
Place kids under 13 in a back seat: It’s the safest place for them to ride.
Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute: A car can heat up 19 degrees in just 10 minutes.
Make sure your child is riding safely. Visit a car seat checkup event to see if you are using your car seat correctly. Common errors include a loose harness, not using the seat belt or LATCH system to properly secure a car seat, failing to correctly use the tether and being unaware of the risks of using a second-hand car seat or booster. A certified child passenger safety technician can help you protect your child. With support of Chevrolet, Safe Kids coalitions have checked more than 2.3 million car seats since 1998.
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