Free Car Seat Check held in Honor of Child Passenger Safety Week

FREE CAR SEAT CHECK!

Every year, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) partners with local communities to hold Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs this year from September 15-21. During this week, Washington County Public Health and Washington County Sheriff's Department are partnering up to hold a free car seat check for parents and caregivers to receive free instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians from both agencies will be offering free car seat safety checks on Tuesday, September 17th from 2-5:30pm at Washington County Public Health, 415 Lower Main Street, Hudson Falls, NY 12839. Technicians will check car seats, let caregivers know if their children are in the right seats for their ages and sizes, and show them how to install the right seats correctly.

"Unfortunately, many parents are overconfident about their car seats," said Elizabeth St John, Senior Health Educator and Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician Instructor for Washington County Public Health. "They think they're protecting their kids, but almost half of car seats are either the wrong seat for the child's age and size, or the seats are installed incorrectly. That puts children at risk." According to NHTSA, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children. Every day in 2022, an average of three children 14 and younger were killed in crashes, and another 429 were injured. "We know parents love their kids," added Miss St John, "so they'll do everything in their power to protect them. An easy way to do that is to double-check their car seats - it's worth making sure."

According to NHTSA, more than a third (39%) of children 14 and younger who died in crashes in 2022 in cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs were unbuckled. The safety agency wants caregivers to know that it's never safe to ride unbuckled in a passenger vehicle - no matter how short the trip or how big the vehicle. More than half (52%) of the child passengers 14 and younger killed in pickup trucks in 2022 were unrestrained - more than any other vehicle category. Bigger vehicles don't protect child passengers, but car seats, booster seats, and seat belts do.

When it comes to child passengers, there is a right seat for every age and developmental stage - from infants to teens. Whether it's a rear-facing car seat, a forward-facing car seat installed with a tether, a booster seat, or a seat belt, a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can put parents' minds at ease by discussing correct car seat selection and showing them how to correctly install that seat in their vehicle. Children should stay in each seat and position until they outgrow those limits, and it's important for all children under 13 to ride in the back seat.

It's also important for caregivers to register their car seats with the manufacturer so they can be notified in the event of a recall. Download NHTSA's SaferCar app, which allows users to save their vehicle, car seat, and tire info in a virtual garage. If any of the saved equipment is included in a safety recall, the app will send a notification.

If you have questions about car seats or the check event, call Washington County Public Health at 518-746-2400 ext 3478.

You can also find more information on child car seat safety, as well as how to find other car seat check events, at www.nhtsa.gov/therightseat.