Child Passenger Safety Week / Seat Check Saturday September 18 – 24, 2011#seatcheck

One campaign always near and dear to my heart is Child Passenger Safety Week. I have 4 children so I know the importance of making sure you childs car seat is securely fastened in your vehicle. Did you know that certain times of the year, you can get a check to make sure it is in properly? I have seen SO many children either riding without seatbelts at all, or in car seats where the straps are falling off the shoulders or the car seat itself is lopsided or loose! This is unacceptable and if they wreck, their child is going to get hurt!  Most, if not all, of these checks are free. I think everyone should take advantage of this service. A few minutes could mean saving your childrens lives if the unthinkable happens.

Here some FACTS for you to consider:

Each year, thousands of children are tragically injured and killed in motor vehicle crashes. In fact, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 1-13.

The reason? Most parents and caregivers don’t understand how car seats work and are not familiar with the milestones a child must reach before he or she can be safely transitioned to the next car seat type or seat belt. The National Highway Safety Transportation Administration is aiming to increase awareness during Child Passenger Safety Week (September 18-24) by educating parents and caregivers about this issue and motivate those who thinkthey are securing their child properly to seek help, even if they’re sure their child is correctly restrained.  Child Passenger Safety Week concludes with National Seat Check Saturday on September 24, where community events nationwide will have Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians available to provide hands-on car seat inspections and advice — for free!

Here is a poster you can print with Child Seat Recommendations for choosing the proper seat: (image below. Right click to save to your computer or click this link >>> Child Seat Recommendations Poster (37)

All 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws requiring that children be restrained in motor vehicles. Car seats and booster seats save lives. They offer the best protection for children in the event of a crash. From 1975 to 2009, approximately 9,310 lives have been saved by the use of child restraints according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

You can also download this free Timeline Fact Sheet (41)

Here is a  locator to find nearby car seat inspection stations on National Seat Check Saturday and throughout the year.

So make sure you go get your childrens safety seats checked. Make sure they are installed properly. And make sure you know how to use them!

Disclosure: I am sharing this information to my readers free of charge. I feel everyone should be made aware of these wonderful annual Child Seat Safety checks.