Safe Kids Huron Valley Offers Free Child Car Seat Inspections to Ensure Kids are Safely Buckled Up - Every Trip, Every Time

Posted: Sep 13, 2012 at 9:24 AM [Sep 13, 2012]

-       National Child Passenger Safety Week is September 17 - 22

 

Ann Arbor, Mich. – Safe Kids Huron Valley, a non-profit organization working to prevent unintentional injuries to children, has child passenger safety as one of their top priorities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children 1 – 12 years old in the U.S.  What’s alarming is that many of these children were not wearing a seatbelt or were not restrained properly in a child safety seat.  But, with so many car seat types and models - rear facing, forward facing, booster, and seat belts, how do you know which one is right for your child?  

Throughout the year, Safe Kids Huron Valley and more than 300 other Safe Kids USA coalitions nationwide conduct free car seat checkup events to inform parents and caregivers on how to properly install their child’s safety seat in their vehicle.  In Washtenaw and Livingston counties, events are held at various locations, including local car dealerships and six fire stations.  In fact, since January, Safe Kids Huron Valley has checked nearly 750 seats! 

During the week of Sept. 17 – 22, Safe Kids Huron Valley will celebrate Child Passenger Safety Week with Safe Kids USA coalitions nationwide in conducting local car seat checkup events for families and their children.   

 “In just a few minutes, our certified technicians can help parents and caregivers, ranging from those with new babies to longtime parents, get the peace of mind that comes from knowing how to properly remove and reinstall child safety and booster seats for children of all ages,” said Jennifer Shea, Safe Kids Huron Valley Child Passenger Safety Technician and Trauma Prevention Specialist for C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

To learn more about one of these upcoming Safe Kids’ Car Seat Checkup events, please call 734-763-2251.   

Free Child Car Seat Inspections on National Seat Check Saturday, September 22:

-       Suburban Chevrolet, 3515 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  (no appointment needed)

-       Novi City Hall, 45175 West 10 Mile Road, Novi, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (no appointment needed)

According to NHTSA, child safety seats reduce the risk of death for infants (under 1 year old) in a vehicle crash by 71 percent, and reduce the likelihood to toddlers (1 to 4 years old) by 54 percent.  All 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring children to be restrained while riding in cars. 

About Safe Kids Huron Valley

Safe Kids Huron Valley, which includes Livingston and Washtenaw counties, works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children through age 14. Safe Kids Huron Valley is a member of Safe Kids Michigan and Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Huron Valley is proudly led by University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.  For more information about Safe Kids, visit:  www.safekids.org or www.michigansafekids.org.  For more information about Safe Kids Huron Valley, visit us on Facebook.